Features

Just what does tsclient offer? Take a look at this short list of features:

• Supports RPD, RDPv5, VNC, XDMCP, and ICA protocols.
• Quick connect from pre-configured files.
• Define screen sizes, and color depth.
• Configure sound to use remote or local resources.
• Map remote disk drives.
• Define start up programs upon connection.
• Performance optimizations.

Installation

The installation of Terminal Server Client is simple. Just follow these steps:

1. Open up your Add/Remove Software tool (such as Ubuntu Software Center, PackageKit, or Synaptic).
2. Search for “tsclient” (no quotes).
3. Mark Terminal Server Client for installation.
4. Click Apply to install.

Once installed Terminal Server Client can be found in Applications > Internet > Terminal Server Client.

Creating connections

Figure 1

Creating a connection with tsclient is incredibly easy. Open up the client and then, on the General tab, fill out the following information:

• Computer: IP Address or domain of remote computer.
• Protocol: Protocol used on remote computer for connections.
• User Name: User name to be used for authentication.
• Password: Password to used used for authentication.
• Domain: If your connection requires a domain, enter it here.

Before you click the connect button, you might want to save this configuration as a quick connect, so the details are no longer necessary to fill in. To do this click Save As and then give the file a descriptive name. All of those Quick Connect files will then be available from the Quick Connect drop-down, saving you plenty of time (you also will not have to remember the credentials! I will warn you though, the files that are saved are saved in flat-text in the ~/.tsclient directory. These files can be read using any editor. So if security is a big concern, you might want to not save the password for all of your clients.

Figure 2

Generally speaking, the defaults all work quite well with Terminal Server Client. Once connected the remote machine will be running in a window either as defined by the defaults or as defined by the user making the connection. Figure 2 shows Terminal Server Client connected to a Windows Server 2008 box.

To close the connection to the remote machine simply click the close button on the window. Once closed, tsclient will ask if you want to re-connect. If a re-connection is not desired, click the Cancel button which will take you back to the connection window, which can be closed if no longer needed.

Final thoughts

I have found Terminal Server Client to be one of the best remote connection tools available when either VNC or RDP protocols are in play. Not only does it make for fast connections, it makes for very reliable connections.

The server is not running after starting up the Windows SSH Server. It is up to the system administrator to start the server so that other users can connect to it.

Users with a Windows username and password are able to use SFTP and SCTP file transfers, access a command prompt via a terminal console and to route TCP connections through WinSSHD by default.

It is up to the administrator to modify the access rights or remove accounts from being able to access the system at all. The administrator can disable services provided by WinSSHD or restrict user access. Both methods can increase the system’s security and should be dealt with before starting the server for the first time.

A good start is the WinSSHD user guide which explains the core concepts of the SSH server and offers tips on how to configure and secure it properly. Interested users can download the WinSSHD SSH Server from the developer’s website

A free and a professional version of Moba SSH is available on the homepage. The server software installs itself as a Windows service. The remote desktop connection can then be established using selected user accounts of the host system. Shortcuts are available to manage users and add domain users.

Possible usage scenarios include centralized backups, system and network monitoring, remote commands, system administration or managing computers from a remote location.

To create a remote desktop connection to the PC running Moba SSH server one would simply use a SSH client like Putty to connect to the IP of the server. The system will ask for the credentials of one enabled user account to log into the system remotely.

Advanced options are available to change the port, allow tcp forwarding, enabling the cron service or enabling RA authentication.

Teamviewer is a remote desktop software that can be used to easily connect to other computers. The greatest benefits is that it is easy to setup even for users without broad technical knowledge and that it can be used for other purposes than remote desktop access such as presentations or virtual private networks. The Remote Control Software here at Ghacks took a closer look at the software and can be a good read for anyone unfamiliar with the product.

Teamviewer works by entering an unique ID and password in the software to connect to a client remotely. The Teamviewer shortcuts would basically eliminate the need of entering and remembering the ID and password before establishing a connection.

The basic idea is to create Teamviewer shortcuts in a folder on the hard drive and execute these to connect to the client computer. Lee created a folder for each client and one personal folder. So all that needs to be done is to create a shortcut of Teamviewer, right-click it and select Properties. The following parameters should be added in the target box of the shortcut: -i [tv ID number] –Password -[tv password]. (without the [] brackets)

Lee failed to list another possible shortcut: -m filetransfer would initiate file transfer mode. Other options are presentation to start a presentation session or starting the application without the -m parameter for remote support.