RDP Setup Question

I want to use RDP from outside my home network or in the network. Does the computer im trying to connect to need to have the RDP client installed and setup to work? I kow i can type mstsc and put in the ip but for the host does that need RDP client installed? Is the RDP client separate program from the built in rdp?

RDP is built into windows xp pro and vista business (i think)

as for making rdp work you have set windows to allow it my computer>properties>remote access

then for outside network use you have to forward the port

The thing is I enable rdp on both machines but when i try to connect it ask me for the username and password of the comp im trying to connect to. I have no idea where i would get that info as i never made a password or username. That’s why im asking if i need more then just the built in RDP software.

i believe that in XP sp2 and w2k3 you cannot connect via remote desktop with a user with a blank password. You might be able to change that via policy, but honestly, do you want a winxp machine exposed on the internet with no passwords necessary to connect?

I would create a user on the target machine, assign a strong password and test that.

this is related, although possibly not directly to the OP's questions. Anyone know which Windows services are absolutely required for RDP to work on a target machine (the machine being connected to)?

mobiux said:

i believe that in XP sp2 and w2k3 you cannot connect via remote desktop with a user with a blank password. You might be able to change that via policy, but honestly, do you want a winxp machine exposed on the internet with no passwords necessary to connect?

I would create a user on the target machine, assign a strong password and test that.

Click to expand...

I created a password and it works perfect

mobiux said:

i believe that in XP sp2 and w2k3 you cannot connect via remote desktop with a user with a blank password. You might be able to change that via policy, but honestly, do you want a winxp machine exposed on the internet with no passwords necessary to connect?

Click to expand...

If your Administrator password is indeed blank (a bad idea in the first place...a lot of malware will self install assuming that)....when you go to enable remote desktop connections on that host machine..it will not let you, you will be told to set a password if you don't have one. So you're literally not able to set a host machine on the internet with a blank password.

YeOldeStonecat said:

If your Administrator password is indeed blank (a bad idea in the first place...a lot of malware will self install assuming that)....when you go to enable remote desktop connections on that host machine..it will not let you, you will be told to set a password if you don't have one. So you're literally not able to set a host machine on the internet with a blank password.

Click to expand...

true by default, my comment was about changing the local computer policy to disable that protection. Saying he could disable it, but that would be a bad idea.

if you wish to publish a remote desktop connection to your Windows XP machine, I suggest you do the following:

1. put a password on your Administrator account. Never leave it open. By default (unless you specified during WinXP installation) Administrator account has no password.

2. Create a user account (control panel > users > create new user). Give that user limited access. Set permission for that username in all programs you want to run remotely. But if possible, avoid setting permission to OS altering programs.

Next time you remote into your computer, log in using the new account you created. That way if anyone's looking over your shoulders at where you're logged into (your remote IP address will show on the trapezoid at the top of your remote desktop), at least they will fail to access it using default Administrator access.

safe yourself some time, www.logmein.com free service does remote connection all over port 80 never need to foward ports