Remote Desktop to Console Session on Windows Server 2003
When you remote desktop to a Windows Server 2003 computer,
the default is to start a new session. But you can easily connect to
the console session of a Windows Server 2003 computer using the /console
switch. This is required with AlarmTraq in order to view the active
AlarmTraq session.
Microsoft Terminal Services Client 5.1 and below:
To start Remote Desktop in console mode, run this from the
command-line: mstsc /console
Microsoft Terminal Services Client 6.0 and higher:
To start Remote Desktop in console mode, run this from the
command-line: mstsc /admin
If you want to permanently connect to console mode, create
a shortcut for Remote Desktop and then right-click, choose Properties,
choose the shortcut tab and then add the "/console" switch on the end of the
Target path.
| Target |
Description |
|
C:\Windows\system32\mstsc.exe /console |
Starts Windows Desktop in CONSOLE
mode |
|
C:\Windows\system32\mstsc.exe /v:DELL2500 /console |
Starts Windows Desktop and connects to server:
DELL2500 in CONSOLE mode
|
The terminal services client is a program called mstsc.exe.
Using the switch "/console" you can force the client to log you in as if
you were on the console. Here's the "quick start" version of how to get
this done. Open "start-->Run" and type in mstsc /console. You will
see the usual dialog box that allows you to enter an IP address or host
address. Enter the name of the AlarmTraq server and log in as you usually
would.
Other Terminal Service Tips
If you are like me you save your settings in an "RDP file. You may be
used to clicking directly on the RDP file instead of opening mstsc. An RDP
file is really a text file and the save as dialog box just creates a
shortcut mstsc using the file as an argument. If you open the file in
notepad you will see something like this.
Here's a trick to let you remotely connect to the console session:
- Start mstsc.exe and enter the settings for the AlarmTraq server
computer you want to connect to
- Save this connection to a file like "alarmtraq.rdp"
- Open this file in Notepad (it's just a text file anyhow)
- Add a line to the file that says "connect to console:i:1" (no
quotes)
- Save the changes
Presto! When you launch the alarmtraq.rdp file and login to the remote
AlarmTraq server, you'll connect to the console session.
You cannot us Mstsc.exe with the /CONSOLE switch to connect to a console
session on a Windows 2000 Server-based computer. For more information
click here.
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