Remote Control of Console in Termianl Server 1

[mikeatcomputergolf]

I need to remote control the console of a W2K Terminal Server. We have a proprietary program that runs on the desktop of the Server and need to be able to view the status of this program. The TS is in Application Mode w\SP3 installed. Any help in this area will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Antony13]

Don't think you can actually control the console session with Terminal Server (though I'm not an expert on TS). What we do is use both Terminal Server and VNC for times when we actually need to look at the console session.

Cheers, Antony

 

[butchrecon]

I dont think it is possible to take over the console. I believe it does not give the option. If you want to take over a desktop then I suggest Netmeeting. This will allow you to take over the desktop. It is not as fast as TS, but it can do what you are wanting. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP, Network+

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

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[GlenJohnson]

http://www.tightvnc.com

is a newer version of vnc. Vnc is good, but tightvnc allows multiple users to run the machine remotely. I have worked on a pc out in the shop, while a friend out in peurto rico used the same program to work on the same machine. We used notepad to type ideas back and forth. Works great. I even have one machine in the back room with W2K installed, and it's only used for one special application. Doesn't even have a monitor hooked up to it. Glen A. Johnson
Microsoft Certified Professional
glen@nellsgiftbox.com


"What really happens is trivial in comparison to what could occur."
Robert von Musil (1880-1942); Austrian author.

 

[OzDog]

We use Compaq/HP Remote Insight Boards (RIBs) for exactly this purpose. These are developed by Compaq/HP for their servers only, but I would assume other manufacturers have a similar component.

The RIBs are a "computer on a single board" with their own NIC, video, mouse and keyboard. This gives the ability to control servers remotely through the Java app onboard using a web browser. Also, as it is a separate processor & NIC, it can even control the server all the way through a reboot, including access to the BIOS or if a server crashes with a BSOD.

There is also a virtual floppy - you can upload a floppy image and use it to boot from, and in the new version they are including virtual CD-ROM too!!

I can (and have) use this functionality to rebuild servers from Ghost images whilst I am interstate or overseas on holidays or training courses!

For $1K (Australian - around $500 US) these boards are unbelievably good value.

Find out if your server manufacturer makes a similar sort of thing. Cheers,
Sam

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[brontosaurus]

Hey Sam, I think those RIB boards are great as well, but I have a question for you...I've always found the mouse support less than satisfactory, have you discovered a way to get the mouse to "synch" any better?

 

[OzDog]

Brontosaurus - Yes I have.

On firmware 2.31 (which is what was on them when we originally got them) the mouse was terrible.

The trick to 2.31 is to click on the Synch Mouse button, and then wait until the cursor stops moving COMPLETELY (it goes up down and shakes left-right a fair bit). After that the mouse is perfect - no need to right-drag to align it.

On the newer firmware versions (we are using 2.41B) there is a new mode that requires no synch. You can still use the old "2 cursor mode", but the single cursor version works really well.

The new iLO - integrated on the motherboard with the G2 servers - use a new firmware, which looks pretty good too. Next time you get a HP ProLiant you'll see it. (Of course if this is the poor mouse performance you meant, then no - I can't help!! )

The mouse will always react slowly, and requires some patience, but to maximise performance, make sure you don't set the resolution too high on the server, and you don't use more than 256 colours. These 2 options make the main difference. Also, it doesn't hurt to turn on 100Mb Full Duplex communications if the switch port can run it.

Try these out - definitely recomment the firmware upgrades. Cheers,
Sam

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