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Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a multi-channel protocol that allows a user to connect to a computer running Microsoft Terminal Services. Clients exist for most versions of Windows, and other operating systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X. The server listens by default on TCP Port 3389.

Based on the ITU T.share protocol (also known as T.128), the first version of RDP (called version 4.0) was introduced with Terminal Services in Windows NT 4.0 Server, Terminal Server Edition. Version 5.0, introduced with Windows 2000 Server, added support for a number of features, including printing to local printers, and aimed to improve network bandwidth usage. Version 5.1, introduced with Windows XP Professional, included support for 24-bit color and sound. Version 5.2, introduced with Windows Server 2003, included support for console mode connections, a session directory, and local resource mapping. Version 6.0, which will be introduced with Windows Vista and Windows Server "Longhorn", will include a significant number of new features, most notably being able to remote a single application instead of the entire desktop.

Features

  • 24-bit color support, giving a palette of 16.7 million colors. (8-, 15-, and 16-bit color are also supported.)
  • 128-bit encryption, using the RC4 encryption algorithm. (This is the default security; older clients may use encryption of lesser strength.)
  • Transport Layer Security support.
  • Audio allows users to run an audio program on the remote desktop and have the sound redirected to their local computer.
  • File System Redirection allows users to use their local files on a remote desktop within the terminal session.
  • Printer Redirection allows users to use their local printer within the terminal session as they would with a locally or network shared printer.
  • Port Redirection allows applications running within the terminal session to access local serial and parallel ports directly.
  • The clipboard can be shared between the remote computer and the local computer.
  • Sharing the resources of local hard drives in remote computer.

Advantages

Clients compatible with the Remote Desktop Protocol run on a number of different operating systems, and is even a core feature of some Linux distributions. Users do not, however, need a broadband connection to access their desktop, as even a 56K modem provides enough speed to provide 5-6 screen refreshes per second.

Disadvantages

The RDP server application is only found on Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP in the Professional and Media Center Editions. As of May 2006, there are no plans to bring Remote Desktop capabilities to the XP Home environment. XP Home does, however, support the RDP client application.

Upcoming features in RDP 6.0

  • Remote Programs: Application publishing with client-side file type associations.
  • Seamless Windows: Remote applications can run on a client machine that are served by a Remote Desktop connection.
  • Terminal Server Gateway: Enables the ability to use a front-end IIS server to accept connections for back-end Terminal Services servers via an HTTPS connection, similar to how RPC over HTTPS allows Outlook clients to connect to a back-end Exchange 2003 server.
  • Support for remoting of Windows Presentation Foundation applications: Clients that have .NET Framework 3.0 support will be able to display full Windows Presentation Foundation effects on a local machine.
  • Rewrite of device redirection to be more general-purpose, allowing a greater variety of devices to be remoted.
  • All of Terminal Services will be fully configurable and scriptable via WMI.
  • Bandwidth tuning for RDP clients.
  • 32-bit Color Support
  • Dual Monitor Support (continuous resolution): Supports displays that can be spanned across multiple monitors.

See also

External links

Microsoft server technology | Remote desktop | Remote administration software

Remote Desktop Protocol | Remote Desktop Protocol | Remote Desktop Protocol | Remote Desktop Protocol

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Remote Desktop Protocol".

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