Remote Settings

Next, click Remote Settings (beneath tasks).

Remote Assistance

When configuring Remote Assistance, ensure the Allow Remote Assistance Connections To This Computer checkbox is selected. Clicking the Advanced button displays this menu, which enables configure remote control and invitation timeout parameters.

Select Users

After clicking the Add button to configure remote access permissions for additional users, Vista presents this menu. Enter the names of users and groups for which you wish to provide access, then click OK.

Remote Desktop Users

Once additional users are added, they’ll appear within the provided window.

Windows Help

If you click on provided Help links, Windows Vista displays contextually relevant support information, including this passage covering Remote Assistance.

Initiating the Remote Desktop connection

To initiate a remote desktop connection in Windows Vista, click Start, select All Programs, and click Accessories.

The Remote Desktop Connection window

The Remote Desktop Connection window will appear. Enter the name or IP address of the computer you wish to connect to and click Connect.

Alternatively, you can configure additional settings using the Options button.

RDP General tab

Clicking Options reveals a host of additional RDP parameters that can be set. You can also create a shortcut icon for a Remote Desktop Connection usiong the Save button (shown here on the General tab).

RDP Display tab

From the Display tab, users can configure the size of the remote desktop window and the color depth.

RDP Local Resources tab

From the Local Resources tab, users can specify sound, keyboard and local device (including printer) settings.

RDP Programs tab

Windows Vista users specify programs that should begin upon starting up a remote desktop connection using the Programs tab.

RDP Experience tab

Remote Desktop Connection’s Experience tab enables configuring connection speed, desktop background, font smoothing and other features to optimize performance.

RDP Advanced tab

Server authentication and terminal services connections requiring firewall penetration are both configured using Remote Desktop Connection’s Advanced tab.

RDP credentials

When attempting to connect to other systems using Windows Vista Remote Desktop Connection, users must enter a username and password for an account possessing remote access permissions on the target workstation or server.

Remote Desktop displayed

Once proper credentials are entered, Windows Vista displays the remote system’s desktop within a dedicated window. To suspend a Remote Desktop Connection session, users can click Start and select Disconnect.

Remote Desktop security warning

If users attempt to connect to other systems running older versions of Windows, Windows Vista presents this security warning. To continue, users need only click Yes.