Using Remote Desktop

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

To allow remote connections for administrative purposes only, you do not have to install a terminal server. Instead, you can enable Remote Desktop on the computer that you want to remotely administer.

Note

Remote Desktop supports only two concurrent remote connections to the computer. You do not need Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs) for these connections.

You can use the following procedure to enable Remote Desktop on a computer running Windows Server 2008.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, on the computer that you plan to configure, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To enable Remote Desktop

  1. Start the System tool. To start the System tool, click Start, click Run, type control system and then click OK.

  2. Under Tasks, click Remote settings.

  3. In the System Properties dialog box, on the Remote tab, click either of the following, depending on your environment:

    • Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure)

    • Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (more secure)

    For more information about the two options, click the Help me choose link on the Remote tab.

  4. Click Select Users to add the users and groups that need to connect to the computer by using Remote Desktop. The users and groups that you add are added to the Remote Desktop Users group.

Note

Members of the local Administrators group can connect even if they are not listed.