Remote Desktop Client
You can Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client in order to connect to your VPS server and administer it.
Note: The Remote Desktop Client software is pre-installed with Windows XP. To run it, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Communications, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
Encrypted Connection; Firewall Port 3389 Required
Remote Desktop Connection connections are encrypted. The Remote Desktop Connection runs on TCP port 3389. If your home or office Internet connection is behind a firewall you will need to make sure this port is open in order to make the Remote Desktop connection.
Administrator User and Session Limits
You can have up to two simultaneous Administrator users logged into your server at any time.
If you were disconnected from a Remote Desktop session for any reason (e.g. your network connection failed) but your Administrator session remained logged in and idle, it is possible that you might find yourself unable to log in to the server, because the two log-in limit was reached.
To prevent this happening we have made the following changes to the 'sessions' properties for all terminal services users:
End a disconnected session: 1 hour
Active session limit: Never
Idle session limit: 1 hour
You can change these settings here:
Administrative Tools>Terminal Services Configuration>Connections>RDP-tcp properties>Sessions
Running Programs as Services
It is preferable that any programs you require to be running 24/7 are run 'as a service'. If you run programs 'on the desktop' and then disconnect from the session you will need to change the above session limits, in particular to never end a disconnected session.
Remote Desktop Client - Windows 95, Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000.
If you are attempting to connect to your VPS from a version of Windows prior to XP then you will need to download and install the Remote Desktop Client software on your PC.
You can download the Remote Desktop software from Microsoft.
Remote Desktop Client for Apple Macs
A free client is available from Microsoft.
Remote Desktop Connection Web connection
The Remote Desktop Web Connection ActiveX control allows you to access your computer, via the Internet, from another computer using Internet Explorer. Please see this Microsoft page for more information on using and installing the client.
Remote Desktop Connection Server Console
If the need arises, you can connect to the server's console (this is where you are remotely operating the mouse and keyboard that would be physically attached to the server). Create a new shortcut for your Remote Desktop Connection Software and replace the Target line with C:\WINNT\System32\mstsc.exe /console. Connecting to the console is useful where software and administration options are not fully supported in a Remote Desktop session.
