Remote desktop connection to multiple computers...

[Mike]

We have a small office with about 5 XP Pro computers in a workgroup
configuration. We have a DSL connection & a Linksys router & I would like to
set up remote desktop for a couple of the users. I imagine I would forward
port 3389 to a computer on the network & connect to it by using
xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:3389 on the remote computer, but what about for the
additional ones?

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

You have a couple of solutions...

One is to configure the router for multiple ports either forwarded or redirected...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/RemoteDesktop/Multiple_PC_RD.html

....or run XP Remote Desktop sessions through a SSH or VPN tunnel. The advantage of this is you only
open one port on the router.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/RemoteDesktop/SSH-RDP-VNC/RemoteDesktopVNCandSSH.html

PPTP VPN is a little tougher since XP acting as a PPTP VPN server can only accept one incoming VPN
connection at a time...

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn_server.htm
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn.htm

Of course if the router can also act as a PPTP or L2TP/IPsec VPN end-point with multiple tunnels
your good to go...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

 

[Mike]

I have set up the router to forward tcp port 3389 top PC1 & 3390 to PC2.
UPnP is enabled on the router. The clients are set up to accept remote
connections. Whenever I try to connect, I get the "Remote Desktop
Disconnected" error message. The logging feature in the router isn't very
helpful, either!
Any other suggestions?

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

What Linksys router? As noted this was tested on a BEFSR41 (v1) and the Windows ICF.

I presume you have the latest firmware installed? If you can't get port redirection working, then
port forwarding to a different listening port may work or the VPN/SSH method.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

 

[Mike]

WRT54GS. I also have a Netopia 3546 ADSL in the mix. Do I have to open anything on it? The linksys log
shows a connection attempt from my homew IP address, so I would thik I'm getting past the Netopia. Are
there any tools I can use to see where the connection is stopping at?

 

[Ron Lowe]

I have set up the router to forward tcp port 3389 top PC1 & 3390 to PC2.
UPnP is enabled on the router. The clients are set up to accept remote
connections. Whenever I try to connect, I get the "Remote Desktop
Disconnected" error message. The logging feature in the router isn't very
helpful, either!
Any other suggestions?

UPnP doesn't come into it.

You need to change the port the Remote Desktop server is
listening on to match what you are forwarding.

So, in the router:
forward port 3389 -> PC1
forward port 3390 -> PC2
forward port 3391 -> PC3
etc

Then:
Do Nothing on PC1 ( leave RD on 3389 );
Change PC2 to listen on 3390;
Change PC3 to listen on 3391;
etc.

Here's how to make the change:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306759

Then, to connect from outside,start up the remote desktop client,
and specify the port number like this: <ip address>:<port number>.
So to connect:
to PC1, specify <external IP address> without any port number.
to PC2, specify <external IP address:3390>;
to PC3, specify <external IP address:3391>;
etc.

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

Actually you can do it either way... See the page I referenced earlier in my original reply... Its
also possible port redirection is dependent on the firmware running on the router. In my experience
firmware versions and what works and what does not work can be a real crap shot with consumer grade
devices...

Better yet though, is to do all of this through a SSH or VPN tunnel and only needing to open one
port. Personally I use the SSH method...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

 

[Ron Lowe]

You need to change the port the Remote Desktop server is
listening on to match what you are forwarding.

[blah blah]


And something I forgot to say:

If you do this, you will need to add a special exception to
the Windows Firewall for the non-standard ports on the
machines you want to connect to.

( You will cheerfully be told that the firewall has been configured to
permit remote desktop when you enable it.

But it will only open the 'standard' port 3389,
which is no use if it's listening on another port. )

So you need to to this too, on PC2 and PC3:

Go to windows firewall, exceptions tab;
Add Port;
Name = 'Remote Desktop:3390', or 'Remote Desktop:3391';
( or any other name you like! )
Port number = 3390 or 3391;
TCP.
Leave the scope set to 'Any Computer including Internet'.
OK your way out.

 

[Mike]

Did that...

[blah blah]

And something I forgot to say:

If you do this, you will need to add a special exception to
the Windows Firewall for the non-standard ports on the
machines you want to connect to.

( You will cheerfully be told that the firewall has been configured to
permit remote desktop when you enable it.

But it will only open the 'standard' port 3389,
which is no use if it's listening on another port. )

So you need to to this too, on PC2 and PC3:

Go to windows firewall, exceptions tab;
Add Port;
Name = 'Remote Desktop:3390', or 'Remote Desktop:3391';
( or any other name you like! )
Port number = 3390 or 3391;
TCP.
Leave the scope set to 'Any Computer including Internet'.
OK your way out.

I generally leave the Windows Firewall off, as it seems to cause more
problems than it's worth in some cases. I'm starting to think the guy
before me changed the ports, as I can't even connect to each other in the
LAN! Since he had given them all real IP addresses, & had them out there
live on the internet, I'm thinking maybe he changed the ports they were
listening on, as well. I don't believe my Netopia DSL router/modem is a
problem, since I'm seeing that I'm reaching my Linksys router when trying
to connect.
Will try again Monday...
Thanks-