Connection of Clients to Terminal Services

This article will throw some light on how to connect a Windows Server 2003 based terminal services client to a terminal server by using Remote Desktop Connection.

For connecting clients to terminal services, you have to open Remote Desktop Connection. For doing this, click Start, select All Programs, click on Accessories. Then click on Communications and then click Remote Desktop Connection. After opening the Remote Desktop Connection, you have to create a terminal services connection. Follow these steps for doing this: Open Remote Desktop Connection on your Windows server. Then in the Computer box, type the computer name or the IP address of a terminal server or a computer that has Remote Desktop enabled. If you want to get connected to a remote computer from a console session, then type computer name or IP address /console. Then click on Connect. After that you will view a Windows dialog box. In this dialog box, type your user name, password and domain and then click OK.

After the creation of terminal services connection, you have to save this as a Remote Desktop protocol (.rdp) file. This .rdp file consists of all the information for connecting to a terminal server. This file also contains the optional settings that were performed at the time of saving this file. Follow these steps for saving your connection settings:

• You have to open Remote Desktop Connection and then click on Options.
• Then you have to determine the connection settings that you would like for this connection.
• After that on the General tab, click Save As. In the File name box, type a file name for the saved connection file and then click on Save.
• After saving the connection settings, you can also open any saved connection.

For doing this, follow these steps.

• You have to open Remote Desktop Connection and then click on Open.
• Then double-click the .rdp file for that connection which you want to open.

These are steps to connect clients to Terminal Services. For Terminal Server Support and related updates subscribe to our blog.

Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 is a Windows server line of operating systems developed by the Microsoft. It was launched on February 27, 2008 and the successor of Windows Server 2003 which was launched nearly five years before. Its updated version, Windows Server 2008 R2, was launched on July 22, 2009. It is constructed on Windows NT 6.x as similar with Windows Vista and Windows 7.

It is developed from the similar code base like Windows Vista. So, because of code similarity, it automatically supports most of the technical, security, management and administrative features which are new to Windows Vista like the enhanced image-based installation, deployment and recovery and many more.

Windows Server 2008 comprises of a fluctuation of installation known as Server Core. In this all of the sustainment work is performed with the command line interface windows. Alternatively, this work can be performed by linking the machine remotely with the help of Microsoft Management Console.

It provides high-availability of services and applications with the Failover Clustering. In the Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, the manner in which the clusters are specified, is altering significantly with the insertion of the cluster validation wizard. The cluster validation wizard is a feature that is incorporated with the failover clustering in Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2. If you want to execute a set of focused tests on a collection of servers, that you specify to use as nodes in a cluster, then you can perform this with the help of cluster validation wizard.

Alteration in Terminal Server's Listening Port

As I have described earlier about Application Server Security that is securing your Terminal Servers now will describe how to alter listening port of your Server.

It is a well-known fact that TCP port 3389 is used by Terminal Server and Windows 2000 Terminal Services for client connections. Alteration in this port is not recommended by Microsoft. But you can change this port. You have to perform this task carefully, otherwise you will face serious problems.

• You have to give more concentration while modifying the registry. If you want to change the default port, then you have to follow these steps:


• You start with the task of running Regedt32 and go to this key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp.


• Then you have to find the port number subkey and notice the value of 00000D3D, hex is for 3389.


• After this, you have to change the port number in Hex and save the new value

If you want to change the port for a particular connection on the Terminal Server, then follow these steps:

• You have to run Regedt32 and go to this key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\connection.


• After this, you have to find the port number subkey and notice the value of 00000D3D, here hex is for 3389.


• Then you have to change the port number in Hex and save this new value.


• After performing this, you have to make alteration in the Port on the Client Side.

Follow these steps to perform this:

• You have to open Client Connection Manager.


• Then on the File menu, click on New Connection and then create the new connection. After executing the wizard, you will view a new connection listed there.


• Then you have to ensure that new connection is highlighted. After this, on the File menu, click Export.


• Then you have to edit the .cns file using Notepad. You have to make modifications in the server port, Server Port=3389 to Server Port= new port number, that you had specified on Terminal Server.


• Now import the file back into Client Connection Manager. Then you will be demanded to overwrite the current one.


• If it has the same name, then overwrite it.

In this way, you will receive a client that has the correct port settings to match your Terminal Server settings. Hope it will help you out, Don’t Forget to subscribe to my blog for more tips and tricks on server and Microsoft Server Support Services