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Remote Desktop multi-user

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by grbeckmeyer 1 view

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I have setup a common-area computer (Until we get a VPN setup so users can go directly to their own desktop)for multiple users with remote desktop. This works fine, but it is going to be for 3-5 users, not concurrently, and the problem is if one user is connected and then a second user tries to connect, that will bump the first users connection. Is there any way to lock out additional connection attempts, so that if a second user tried to connect they might get a connection busy error or something similar.

7 replies

by timwalsh

Unfortunately, Remote Desktop wasn't desinged for a multi-user environment. There is no way to "lock-out" additional connection attempts.

When a user attempts to connect, if another user is already connected, the second user gets a warning that ' is already connected. If you continue, will be disconnected and all work will be lost.' The user already connected will be given a warning message saying they are in the process of being disconnected. There is no way for the currently connected user to block this. Your users will need to pay attention to what they are doing (and not blindly click Okay until they can log-on) and exercise some common courtesy.

by grbeckmeyer

I was at the host end during testing, not the remote, so I didn't see the warning. However, the person testing at the remote end was an engineer with many years experience, and he apparently clicked right over this warning too. Ultimately, the plan is to have a VPN, then users can run remote desktop straight to their own office PC.

by pacerfan9

Windows XP does not support multiple concurrent connections. See http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/remotedesktop/faq.asp. It points out that RD is designed for single user. If you are interested you can download Windows 2003 Server RC2 from Microsoft (a beta version for free) and try out it's RD. I am currently running it and it supports multiple connection's and you can even login your PC over a web page. Give it a try, you'll like it.

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