Connect Multiple, Simultaneous, Concurrent Remote Desktop Sessions
I hate sharing computers. Like most families, we started with just one that everybody used. It was a pain to compete with everybody in the house for computer time. Thankfully, now I have my own computer AND laptop. Unfortunately, the other members of my household are still kinda sharing the same family computer even though they own their own laptops. It’s like the family server, hosting everybody’s files, settings, programs, and profiles. Fortunately, there is a way to come across this family time-sharing dilemma. The only requirement is Windows XP Professional.
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
Remote Desktop is an amazing feature that comes with XP Pro. However, its concept is not so groundbreaking with Linux and Unix users. They’ve always had remote terminal consoles and X Windows sessions. But with Windows neophytes, we’re drawn to this feature like bugs to a light source. The RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) allows any user to access his or her computer remotely as if he or she was there. For example, pretend I’m in Tokyo on a business trip and I need to access some old emails in my Mozilla Thunderbird at home. Not a problem. Assuming that I enabled it before I left, I fire up the Remote Desktop Connection Manager. Then, I input my home’s static IP address and my Windows login. In the end, I see my home desktop screen in my business laptop screen on the other side of the world.
Multiple Logins
How does this apply to family time-sharing? Well, if everybody has their own username, they can access their account on the home server simultaneously on different computers! That means dad can be on the family computer. If mom needs to access her pictures, she just needs to use my laptop to remotely log on with RDP. If sister needs her playlist, she can use her computer to logon as well. Basically, the home computer RDP will be managing two different screens for mom and sister, while dad is working on the home computer itself! It’s like a home thin-client network!
Terminal Services Hack
There is just one problem. Unfortunately, the Microsoft Windows XP Professional RDP limits the number of users logged in to one. Two people cannot be logged on at the same time even if it includes just a physical, local-console login and a remote login. It has to be one or the other and only one at a time. It is so characteristic for Microsoft to do this! There was a time when Microsoft did allow more than 1 user logged on at the same time. I’m not sure if it was with Windows 2000, 2003, or XP Pro pre-SP2. But, it was only a matter of time before somebody hacked the protocol and opened up the disabled feature. Two great explanations on how it works and how to manually enable this feature can be found at Concurrent Remote Desktop Sessions in Windows XP SP2 in Sig9 and Ricky’s Web Review – Windows XP Multiuser Remote Desktop. Someone made it even easier by automating the process in a simple installation file that works just as well.
Caution
Multiple users logged on at the same time will tax computer’s resources heavily. This will result in slower performance! I only recommend doing this on a home server with at least 1GB of RAM and a fast processor (or a dual-core processor).
Update: I believe there is also a way to do this on Windows Visa. Read this article from missing remote.
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April 3rd, 2007 at 3:16 am
How is this any more practical than just mapping out each folder as a drive on target machine? I don’t see the practicality, you’re still getting to view what you need to, but you aren’t clogging the bandwith of the network.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Tried but not working, need to find other solution. Also wasted 2 hours in trying this trick.
June 8th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Hi i need ur help about the connect, i have 2 desktop in my room and my bro’s room. but 2 desktop can’t work at the same time. So how can i connect to let 2 desktop can have internet to online at same time?plz explain clearly for me how to connect, thxx
July 18th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
This article is complete garbage. Why on earth would you use multiple sessions with RDP when you could have the users access the files via a simple share?
July 21st, 2008 at 7:43 am
RDP is gives you faster performance with databases than accessing them as mapped drives over VPN. That’s what makes this different.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
There’s also more resources on a computer than the disk drive. If you explain how to use a file share to have two users share the new, dual-core CPU, I’ll agree this is article is garbage.
July 29th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I thank you for this advice. I preferred the “automating the process in a simple installation file” option.
To complete the process I had to set the server pc to allow remote sessions to connect and create an administrator user with password and (because I was on local LAN) make the same Workgroup name on both machines to see the Terminal Server pc from the remote pc. I was able to logon directly and via Remote Desktop Connection.
As to why:- thin clients are cheaper to buy and run power wise hence greener.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Patch worked like a charm. Thanks.
June 9th, 2009 at 1:59 am
If it works it will be great, accessing a shared folder is great but say you have three people want to run a specific programme that is only available on the host computer at the same time…from different locations…then this is great for that.
August 11th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Nice article about RDC. Also useful information about RDC can be found at
http://codingdigest.blogspot.com
January 18th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
[…] Connect Multiple, Simultaneous, Concurrent Remote Desktop Sessions. […]
January 29th, 2011 at 7:50 am
those who say this article is garbage probably don’t understand the uses of remote desktop. they’re the type of guys Microsoft has been using as cash cows—simpletons who just don’t know how to think beyond what is written on an appliance’s manual. i’m glad to have found this article.
January 29th, 2011 at 7:54 am
i actually use this to check on who’s using my home computer or to spy. home pc’s got a camera hidden somewhere and with concurrent, simultaneous user access, i can view/record things happening around my home pc.
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