TS vs. Remote Desktop

[Bob Showalter]

Is there a fundamental difference between logging on to a
Terminal Server using Remote Desktop or as a Terminal
Services Client. Both seem to work except....

When logged on using Remote Desktop, I can not seem to get
the local printer to map back from the server. When I use
TS Client, it maps back just fine. On other systems, both
seem to work the same.

Also, I notice that on some of my machines, when connected
(through a Symantec VPN), I can still access the Internet
and on others I can't. Are the two problems related. The
same systems that can't print also can't access the
Internet.

Thanks in advance for any help..

 

[Matthew Harris [MVP]]

They are both the same. Microsoft changed the name of the
Remote Desktop client a while back. It used to be called
the terminal services client.

The newest version of the Remote Desktop client should map
your network printers correctly. Try upgrading to the
latest version at this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
FamilyID=a8255ffc-4b4a-40e7-a706-
cde7e9b57e79&DisplayLang=en

Also, you may be unable to access the internet when you
have a VPN established since a VPN typically forces all
outgoing packets through the VPN by adjusting your gateway
settings. Do realize, if you could connect to the
internet and to your VPN'd servers at the same time, how
does your computer know which packets are considered
secure packets that are destined for the secure VPN
network and which aren't? Being able to access the
Internet and the VPN probably means those people are
overriding the gateway settings, which (the way I see it)
is a security risk.

-M

 

[Bob Showalter]

Thanks for the reply and the info. What you say about the
VPN makes sense and I think I should check out the other
systems to see what is going on.

 

[Matthew Harris [MVP]]

Good idea. If those people are sending secure packets
across an insecure connection, then this could be quite a
problem.

-M