Remote Desktop Via Cisco VPN

[dajogejr]

Sorry...this is going to be a long winded one.

Home user, Wide Open West ISP (cable ISP)

Linksys Router, installed yesterday, working perfectly.
Dell Dimension series, XP Home all updates including Service Pack 2.

Ok, installed Microsoft's remote desktop client.
Installed my company's Cisco VPN Client (software).

The VPN Client connects to our office, I can ping by both Name and IP address to all of our office.

But, when I open the remote desktop connection, it will get ready to log into a PC, XP Pro at the office...and just hangs until it times out. Never get the Domain logon.

Now, here's the kicker.

I brought a 2000Pro laptop with me. Plugged into the router. Connected via VPN client (Same as XP Desktop) Connected to two different PCs via remote connection (same client from MS)
No problems, works 100% perfectly.
I should also mention, I'm using my credentials all the way around. As a domain admin, I get it all....

I disabled XP's firewall (SP2), disabled security center service all together...etc.

I know, I know...I can just setup Ultr@VNC, easily...but, this setup works for me at home. Works on this laptop, works on a couple of other co-workers PCs at home, running various OS's...XP and 2K. I even uinstalled both VPN client and Remote Desktop, reboot, reinstalled both.

Any ideas boys and girls...got me stumped!

[Midknyte]

Are you sure XP home supports remote desktop properly? I think you need to upgrade to pro.

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxpdifs.htm

I know you need xp pro to log into a domain.

[dajogejr]

Yep....it's downloadable Client for all MS OS.

Right from Microsoft. XP Pro just supports it out of the box.
You can install it from the XP Home CD.

See here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx


I used to think the same about home...but, as part of the install, there is actually an option to put home on a domain...too....

[dajogejr]

Take a looksie here, MK.

http://vowe.net/archives/001639.html

[Midknyte]

Interesting. That might still be the problem, though. all those backdoor hacks and stuff. I would at least give pro a shot if all else fails.

You can connect to RD from xp home, but I don't think you can host.

[dajogejr]

Not looking to.
His desktop (as well as all the XP desktops at the office) are all XP Pro.

His PC at home is Home...

I'm going to load up a box tomorrow with a slipstream of XP Home SP2, and test it again...see if Home is the issue.

It just doesn't sound right, since the same remote desktop worked 100% perfect on a Windows 2000 laptop...??

Was hoping you'd dip in here...MK. Thanks...

:)

[Midknyte]

windows 2000 allows connection to a domain just fine, so that's a moot point. the issue is that home is not SUPPOSED to connect to a domain without the trick you mentioned.

[dajogejr]

It's just surprising, that's all.
We'll see what happens when I load up a box at work with Home.

Problem is...there are 4 other users, all XP home, that want the same...:rolleyes:

I'll let ya know the outcome, MK.

[r8500]

mk is right, Home edition is not supposed to be a member of a domain. However, the Remote Desktop client can be run on any version of windows, including 95 I believe. They even make a version for Mac.

da, you could try adjusting the connection options. Set it for dial up, instead of broad band. It will try to use less abndwidth that way, and may work.

[dajogejr]

I've stripped down the options from nothing to full... Speed is no issue....

Like I said, it'll connect to the machine ...just pauses at logon.

I'm beginnin to think you boys are right...though.
I'm out of the office till tomorrow afternoon, we shall see.

If so, I'm not going to have him upgrade, I'll just throw VNC on there....

[r8500]

I dont think its an issue with Home.

[Midknyte]

Originally posted by r8500
mk is right, Home edition is not supposed to be a member of a domain. However, the Remote Desktop client can be run on any version of windows, including 95 I believe. They even make a version for Mac.

It can be a client, but it cannot be the remote desktop "server" from what I recall.

[r8500]

Originally posted by Midknyte
It can be a client, but it cannot be the remote desktop "server" from what I recall.

That is 100% correct.

[dajogejr]

Again, all I'm trying to do is use the XP Home, at the guy's house...as a remote client, to log onto his work PC, which...is of course XP Pro.

The 2000 laptop I brought with me, same VPN client, same Remote Desktop client, logged onto mine, his and our two W2K Servers no problem.

[steevo]

The fact that he's logging into a domain has nothing to do with his PC at home. The PC that's logging into the domain is his work PC, which is XP-pro.

Where is the VPN server? is it in work or somewhere else. I sometimes get the symptoms you describe because our VPN server is in the states, yet my work PC is in the UK, so the ****ty connection sometimes hangs on me. That only happens with the RDP client though. VNC is fine every time.

What are your ping times like when you ping within the domain?

[dajogejr]

We have a Cisco VPN Concentrator in our Infrastructure.

Our clients connect to it to browse our network.

I would blame the connection, if it wasn't for the 2000 laptop going through the same exact router at the same time working 100% perfectly...

What you're saying is what I thought, but...as said. Once I get an XP Home PC SP2 built, gonna take it home, connect it up to my router, and see how it goes.