Terminal Service Sessions, SSL VPN, Remote Desktop, etc, etc

[Kevin Mullins]

I know this ain't at all gaming related or anything, but I'm looking for some advice.....

I'm trying to find a THIRD PARTY software that allows the use of dual monitors while logged into an office server/terminal/whatever.
Right now we have to go to a web site (secure gateway home page) and log in. Then we have to go to a link to a Terminal Session and log in again to get to the pc/terminal that we need to access at the office.
She has dual monitors at work, and uses both a lot since she needs to open multiple documents at one time to view, transfer information, compare, etc.
I set the home office pc up with dual monitors....no biggie.... but the WinXP's version of remote desktop does NOT support dual monitors while in a remote desktop session. So we can't slide documents over to the second monitor or anything. (just stuck with one screen usable)

Been trying ---my bottom--- off to get some sort of third party software to connect....but not having much luck, keep getting errors. Heck, I can't even setup a generic "Remote Desktop" connection to connect.
But I click on the usual "web links" and all is fine. (aside from the dual monitor issue)

It's a State server, so I can't install anything to it, just looking for a way to connect to the SSL VPN site that will allow use of our dual monitor setup. So basically all I can install is a "client" software on my end that will hopefully allow us to connect as if we were going through the web site.

If any of that made sense......then you're already doing much better than me. 

[nipsmg]

I understand you're stressing third party here, but...   If you're looking for truly usable multi-screen experience over a remote connection you really should be looking at using RDP.  What version of OS is running on your server?  If it's 2003 SP1 or higher, you have multi-monitor support, even in XP (SP2 or higher).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Desktop_Protocol


Trust me, 3rd party options on windows just suck, horribly.

[Kevin Mullins]

I am only stressing "third party" since I haven't had much luck setting up a Remote Desktop Connection that will actually "connect" to their server. Just thought there may be something out there easier and more fool proof to setup for this sort of thing.

They are running Windows Server 2003, we are running WinXP SP3 on our pc.

If I could connect with Remote Desktop then I may be able figure it out from there, i.e. /span options and such, but so far no matter what I try I get the infamous Error 800.
But if I go through Internet Explorer links, all works fine.
Maybe I'm missing some security settings or something during the Remote Desktop Connection setup..... I dunno.

Their network admins haven't been much help as they seem to just know how to connect through the web and apparently they have never heard of anyone actually trying to use dual monitors remotely on their server.
So the help and insight is certainly appreciated. 

[drventure]

Ultravnc does it, at least is says so on their site

http://www.uvnc.com/

I've used ultravnc a lot and it works quite well.

Not quite as convenient as RDC because you actually have to install something, but other than that, it's pretty good. Plus it's got chat, file transfer and other features. and it's free.

[abispac]

i dont know if teamviewer will work  for you....just an idea...

[Endaar]

If I'm reading things correctly the admins have it setup so that you are using remote desktop over HTTP; that explains the web link. Does it load an activex control when you connect?

When it comes to remote desktop, there's virtually nothing to configure on the client-side. If the server/firewall/etc is not setup to allow you to connect via the full RDP client, you're not going to be able to, period. I think that's what's going on here.

I have no experience with RDP over HTTP, and perhaps that's not as flexible as the full RDP client.

Also, I'm not clear exactly on what machine you are remotely trying to connect to. If the dual monitors are setup on her desktop at work, then I would assume THAT's the machine you are trying to remote desktop to. So a server really doesn't come in to play. If on the other hand you are using terminal services at work (i.e. a dumb terminal) then it makes sense you are connecting to a server, but at the point the dual monitor support should work exactly the same at home as it does in the office.

Endaar

[Kevin Mullins]

If I'm reading things correctly the admins have it setup so that you are using remote desktop over HTTP; that explains the web link.

Exactly.

Does it load an activex control when you connect?

Yes. The very first time you go to the site it loads an ActiveX Control.

When it comes to remote desktop, there's virtually nothing to configure on the client-side. If the server/firewall/etc is not setup to allow you to connect via the full RDP client, you're not going to be able to, period. I think that's what's going on here.

That has been my suspicion all along since I have yet to ever get a client software of ANY kind to actually connect.

Also, I'm not clear exactly on what machine you are remotely trying to connect to. If the dual monitors are setup on her desktop at work, then I would assume THAT's the machine you are trying to remote desktop to. So a server really doesn't come in to play. If on the other hand you are using terminal services at work (i.e. a dumb terminal) then it makes sense you are connecting to a server, but at the point the dual monitor support should work exactly the same at home as it does in the office.

I'm starting to think the pc's at her work are of the "dumb terminal" type. As we are logging into a server and then from there can log into her "desktop", but most of the applications used on her desktop are server based. (they are just desktop icons that then link to the server) She can use dual monitors locally at work, but when we log on from home only one of our screens are usable during the remote desktop session. (we can only use the second screen here at home for local applications)

Thanks for all the tips fellas..... I have been willing to try anything at this point.
But I may have to try and talk to the IT folks from the State and see if they have ever even tried this stuff without using the "web links" for access. (I doubt it)