Saving Username and Password in Remote Desktop Client

[Guest Mike Schumann]

I am trying to configure Windows Vista & XP laptops to easily connect to

multiple different applications running on a Windows 2003 Terminal Server.

I have created multiple user accounts on the terminal server, each of which

starts up a different application.

 

On each laptop, I want to create a shortcut on the desktop for each

application. To do this, I tried to save a separate connection (rdp) file

with the username and password for each application.

 

This does not work. It appears that the username and password is not saved

in the connection file, but is somehow saved only once for the server.

 

Is there any way to make this work?????

 

--

Mike Schumann

[Guest Vera Noest [MVP]]

Re: Saving Username and Password in Remote Desktop Client

 

From the behaviour you describe it seems that you run the 6.x

version of the rdp client.

Check this for more info:

 

Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ

http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/01/22/vista-remote-desktop-

connection-authentication-faq.aspx

 

Seems to me that you are making life difficult for yourself by

creating multiple accounts.

Why not use the same account (one unique account for each user,

sharing accounts is *not* good on a TS), and create different rdp

connections files with different starting applications defined in

the rdp files?

 

_________________________________________________________

Vera Noest

MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

 

"Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 21

apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

> I am trying to configure Windows Vista & XP laptops to easily

> connect to multiple different applications running on a Windows

> 2003 Terminal Server. I have created multiple user accounts on

> the terminal server, each of which starts up a different

> application.

>

> On each laptop, I want to create a shortcut on the desktop for

> each application. To do this, I tried to save a separate

> connection (rdp) file with the username and password for each

> application.

>

> This does not work. It appears that the username and password

> is not saved in the connection file, but is somehow saved only

> once for the server.

>

> Is there any way to make this work?????

[Guest Mike Schumann]

Re: Saving Username and Password in Remote Desktop Client

 

The reason that I have one account for each application, is that I don't

want to permit my users to log in to my Terminal Server and run anything

they feel like. If I store the start program in the rdp file on the client,

instead of configuring it in the user profile on the terminal server, then a

user could edit the rdp profile, and get into the terminal server with a

desktop connection.

 

What I really need is the old way the Terminal Server client used to work;

the username and password are saved in the rdp file. An alternative would

be to give me a command line interface where I could specify the username

and password.

 

What Microsoft is completely oblivious to is that some people might want to

save multiple connections for a single server with different logon

credentials. It's a complete stretch to make the assumption that every time

I log into a particular server I want to use the same Username / Password

combo.

 

Given the large number of the posts on the blog that you linked to, I don't

think I'm the only one in this boat. We need a workaround NOW!

 

Mike Schumann

 

"Vera Noest [MVP]" <vera.noest@remove-this.hem.utfors.se> wrote in message

news:Xns9A87F10A0ED6Cveranoesthemutforsse@207.46.248.16...

> From the behaviour you describe it seems that you run the 6.x

> version of the rdp client.

> Check this for more info:

>

> Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ

> http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/01/22/vista-remote-desktop-

> connection-authentication-faq.aspx

>

> Seems to me that you are making life difficult for yourself by

> creating multiple accounts.

> Why not use the same account (one unique account for each user,

> sharing accounts is *not* good on a TS), and create different rdp

> connections files with different starting applications defined in

> the rdp files?

>

> _________________________________________________________

> Vera Noest

> MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

> TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

> ___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

>

> "Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 21

> apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

>

>> I am trying to configure Windows Vista & XP laptops to easily

>> connect to multiple different applications running on a Windows

>> 2003 Terminal Server. I have created multiple user accounts on

>> the terminal server, each of which starts up a different

>> application.

>>

>> On each laptop, I want to create a shortcut on the desktop for

>> each application. To do this, I tried to save a separate

>> connection (rdp) file with the username and password for each

>> application.

>>

>> This does not work. It appears that the username and password

>> is not saved in the connection file, but is somehow saved only

>> once for the server.

>>

>> Is there any way to make this work?????

[Guest Mike Schumann]

Re: Saving Username and Password in Remote Desktop Client

 

The blog alludes to an rdp client beta that is in the works which will store

the username in the rdp file ala Ver 5.2. This might solve my problem. Is

this beta available? Where can I get it?

 

Mike Schumann

 

"Vera Noest [MVP]" <vera.noest@remove-this.hem.utfors.se> wrote in message

news:Xns9A87F10A0ED6Cveranoesthemutforsse@207.46.248.16...

> From the behaviour you describe it seems that you run the 6.x

> version of the rdp client.

> Check this for more info:

>

> Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ

> http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/01/22/vista-remote-desktop-

> connection-authentication-faq.aspx

>

> Seems to me that you are making life difficult for yourself by

> creating multiple accounts.

> Why not use the same account (one unique account for each user,

> sharing accounts is *not* good on a TS), and create different rdp

> connections files with different starting applications defined in

> the rdp files?

>

> _________________________________________________________

> Vera Noest

> MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

> TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

> ___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

>

> "Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 21

> apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

>

>> I am trying to configure Windows Vista & XP laptops to easily

>> connect to multiple different applications running on a Windows

>> 2003 Terminal Server. I have created multiple user accounts on

>> the terminal server, each of which starts up a different

>> application.

>>

>> On each laptop, I want to create a shortcut on the desktop for

>> each application. To do this, I tried to save a separate

>> connection (rdp) file with the username and password for each

>> application.

>>

>> This does not work. It appears that the username and password

>> is not saved in the connection file, but is somehow saved only

>> once for the server.

>>

>> Is there any way to make this work?????

[Guest Vera Noest [MVP]]

Re: Saving Username and Password in Remote Desktop Client

 

So you are using these multiple accounts as a safety technique?

That won't work! It is trivial to start any application on the TS,

including the full desktop, from within nearly any other

application.

 

Instead, I'd use NTFS permissions, software restriction policies,

and other lockdown techniques to protect your TS.

 

Locking Down Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server Sessions

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/lockdo

wn.mspx

 

324036 - HOW TO: Use Software Restriction Policies in Windows

Server 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324036

 

_________________________________________________________

Vera Noest

MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

 

"Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 22

apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

> The reason that I have one account for each application, is that

> I don't want to permit my users to log in to my Terminal Server

> and run anything they feel like. If I store the start program

> in the rdp file on the client, instead of configuring it in the

> user profile on the terminal server, then a user could edit the

> rdp profile, and get into the terminal server with a desktop

> connection.

>

> What I really need is the old way the Terminal Server client

> used to work; the username and password are saved in the rdp

> file. An alternative would be to give me a command line

> interface where I could specify the username and password.

>

> What Microsoft is completely oblivious to is that some people

> might want to save multiple connections for a single server with

> different logon credentials. It's a complete stretch to make

> the assumption that every time I log into a particular server I

> want to use the same Username / Password combo.

>

> Given the large number of the posts on the blog that you linked

> to, I don't think I'm the only one in this boat. We need a

> workaround NOW!

>

> Mike Schumann

>

> "Vera Noest [MVP]" <vera.noest@remove-this.hem.utfors.se> wrote

> in message

> news:Xns9A87F10A0ED6Cveranoesthemutforsse@207.46.248.16...

>> From the behaviour you describe it seems that you run the 6.x

>> version of the rdp client.

>> Check this for more info:

>>

>> Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ

>> http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/01/22/vista-remote-desktop

>> - connection-authentication-faq.aspx

>>

>> Seems to me that you are making life difficult for yourself by

>> creating multiple accounts.

>> Why not use the same account (one unique account for each user,

>> sharing accounts is *not* good on a TS), and create different

>> rdp connections files with different starting applications

>> defined in the rdp files?

>>

>> _________________________________________________________

>> Vera Noest

>> MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

>> TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

>> ___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

>>

>> "Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 21

>> apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

>>

>>> I am trying to configure Windows Vista & XP laptops to easily

>>> connect to multiple different applications running on a

>>> Windows 2003 Terminal Server. I have created multiple user

>>> accounts on the terminal server, each of which starts up a

>>> different application.

>>>

>>> On each laptop, I want to create a shortcut on the desktop for

>>> each application. To do this, I tried to save a separate

>>> connection (rdp) file with the username and password for each

>>> application.

>>>

>>> This does not work. It appears that the username and password

>>> is not saved in the connection file, but is somehow saved only

>>> once for the server.

>>>

>>> Is there any way to make this work?????

[Guest Vera Noest [MVP]]

Re: Saving Username and Password in Remote Desktop Client

 

You'll want to read this:

 

TS connection experience improvements based on RDP 6.0 client

customer feedback

http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/03/28/ts-connection-

experience-improvements-based-on-rdp-6-0-client-customer-

feedback.aspx

 

which addresses your problem.

 

I believe that the beta of rdp client 6.1 is available from the

Microsoft Connect site at http://connect.microsoft.com/

 

_________________________________________________________

Vera Noest

MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

 

"Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 22

apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

> The blog alludes to an rdp client beta that is in the works

> which will store the username in the rdp file ala Ver 5.2. This

> might solve my problem. Is this beta available? Where can I

> get it?

>

> Mike Schumann

>

> "Vera Noest [MVP]" <vera.noest@remove-this.hem.utfors.se> wrote

> in message

> news:Xns9A87F10A0ED6Cveranoesthemutforsse@207.46.248.16...

>> From the behaviour you describe it seems that you run the 6.x

>> version of the rdp client.

>> Check this for more info:

>>

>> Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ

>> http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/01/22/vista-remote-desktop

>> - connection-authentication-faq.aspx

>>

>> Seems to me that you are making life difficult for yourself by

>> creating multiple accounts.

>> Why not use the same account (one unique account for each user,

>> sharing accounts is *not* good on a TS), and create different

>> rdp connections files with different starting applications

>> defined in the rdp files?

>>

>> _________________________________________________________

>> Vera Noest

>> MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

>> TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

>> ___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

>>

>> "Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 21

>> apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

>>

>>> I am trying to configure Windows Vista & XP laptops to easily

>>> connect to multiple different applications running on a

>>> Windows 2003 Terminal Server. I have created multiple user

>>> accounts on the terminal server, each of which starts up a

>>> different application.

>>>

>>> On each laptop, I want to create a shortcut on the desktop for

>>> each application. To do this, I tried to save a separate

>>> connection (rdp) file with the username and password for each

>>> application.

>>>

>>> This does not work. It appears that the username and password

>>> is not saved in the connection file, but is somehow saved only

>>> once for the server.

>>>

>>> Is there any way to make this work?????

[Guest Mike Schumann]

Re: Saving Username and Password in Remote Desktop Client

 

It sounds like 6.1 will solve the problem. However, there is no current way

to get 6.1 separately from XP SP3 beta or Vista SP1 beta. It's been almost

1 year since the 6.1 enhancements were published in this blog, and we still

can't get our hands on a beta copy. This is ridiculous!!!

 

Mike Schumann

 

"Vera Noest [MVP]" <vera.noest@remove-this.hem.utfors.se> wrote in message

news:Xns9A88D5658B2AAveranoesthemutforsse@207.46.248.16...

> You'll want to read this:

>

> TS connection experience improvements based on RDP 6.0 client

> customer feedback

> http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/03/28/ts-connection-

> experience-improvements-based-on-rdp-6-0-client-customer-

> feedback.aspx

>

> which addresses your problem.

>

> I believe that the beta of rdp client 6.1 is available from the

> Microsoft Connect site at http://connect.microsoft.com/

>

> _________________________________________________________

> Vera Noest

> MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

> TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

> ___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

>

> "Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 22

> apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

>

>> The blog alludes to an rdp client beta that is in the works

>> which will store the username in the rdp file ala Ver 5.2. This

>> might solve my problem. Is this beta available? Where can I

>> get it?

>>

>> Mike Schumann

>>

>> "Vera Noest [MVP]" <vera.noest@remove-this.hem.utfors.se> wrote

>> in message

>> news:Xns9A87F10A0ED6Cveranoesthemutforsse@207.46.248.16...

>>> From the behaviour you describe it seems that you run the 6.x

>>> version of the rdp client.

>>> Check this for more info:

>>>

>>> Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ

>>> http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/archive/2007/01/22/vista-remote-desktop

>>> - connection-authentication-faq.aspx

>>>

>>> Seems to me that you are making life difficult for yourself by

>>> creating multiple accounts.

>>> Why not use the same account (one unique account for each user,

>>> sharing accounts is *not* good on a TS), and create different

>>> rdp connections files with different starting applications

>>> defined in the rdp files?

>>>

>>> _________________________________________________________

>>> Vera Noest

>>> MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

>>> TS troubleshooting: http://ts.veranoest.net

>>> ___ please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ___

>>>

>>> "Mike Schumann" <mike-nospam@traditions-nospam.com> wrote on 21

>>> apr 2008 in microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services:

>>>

>>>> I am trying to configure Windows Vista & XP laptops to easily

>>>> connect to multiple different applications running on a

>>>> Windows 2003 Terminal Server. I have created multiple user

>>>> accounts on the terminal server, each of which starts up a

>>>> different application.

>>>>

>>>> On each laptop, I want to create a shortcut on the desktop for

>>>> each application. To do this, I tried to save a separate

>>>> connection (rdp) file with the username and password for each

>>>> application.

>>>>

>>>> This does not work. It appears that the username and password

>>>> is not saved in the connection file, but is somehow saved only

>>>> once for the server.

>>>>

>>>> Is there any way to make this work?????