multi monitor & RDP

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1101

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#191017 20-Jan-2016 11:41

Hi there

Im trying to find a solution for RDP (remote desktop from home onto a work PC) & have multimonitor support, 2 or even 3 monitors. For a occasional work from home setup : RDP onto the work PC.

I'm seeing some conflicting info on this: Win Enterprise or ultimate needed on both, or on one PC, you may only get span not true multimonitor, all have to be same resolution, or not. There is the /multimon switch, that may not do whats wanted. Im testing it out here(failing) but dont have Win Ent or Ultimate loaded on test PC's.

Any solution to this, can you get TRUE mulitmonitor (not just span). Is a 3rd party software solution required (eg splitveiw)

The alternative is a secure VPN of some sort, but dont really want to be dragging docs & databases to & from 2 ADSL connections

mitchtay

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Geek
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#1475229 20-Jan-2016 11:51

Just tested this at work.

From Windows 7 Professional (client) -> Windows Server 2008R2 (server)
mstsc /multimon /v <hostname>
works as I would expect normal multiple monitor support to work. In this case both monitors are of differing resolution, but the RDP session works the same as my local setup; screen orientation and placement etc.

mstsc /span /v <hostname>
didn't work until I changed the resolution of both monitors to be identical, but as you said it "emulates" a single virtual monitor/viewport over both logical monitors so probably isn't what you needed.

I'm unsure exactly what the requirements for the /multimon switch are to work, but for my setup it seems to work as I'd expect.

1101

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#1475287 20-Jan-2016 12:15

mitchtay:

Just tested this at work.

From Windows 7 Professional (client) -> Windows Server 2008R2 (server)

Is that Win7 , oem/retail or Ent/vol lic ? Also did you have 2 monitors on the server ?

Perhaps something like teamveiwer (but cheaper) or a VNC type product might be the way to go.

BuffyNZ

241 posts

Master Geek
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#1475288 20-Jan-2016 12:15

I live in RDP, and have hundreds of servers I RDP into and out of..

I was using mRemoteNg, but have just paid for all my team to start using Royal TS, which is just awesome.

http://www.royalapplications.com/ts/win/features

Recursion: See recursion.
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networkn

Networkn
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#1475308 20-Jan-2016 12:35

BuffyNZ:

I live in RDP, and have hundreds of servers I RDP into and out of..

I was using mRemoteNg, but have just paid for all my team to start using Royal TS, which is just awesome.

http://www.royalapplications.com/ts/win/features

We use Remote Desktop Manager, one of the best thing about it is how fast their dev cycle.

I recall typing an email for a feature request 10pm Sunday night and having a build via email link with said function 7am following morning.

mitchtay

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Geek
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#1475326 20-Jan-2016 13:01

1101:

Is that Win7 , oem/retail or Ent/vol lic ? Also did you have 2 monitors on the server ?

Perhaps something like teamveiwer (but cheaper) or a VNC type product might be the way to go.

Windows 7 Professional - Volume Licensing.
The server is a vm running on ESXi without any attached monitors.

toyonut

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#1475350 20-Jan-2016 13:23

You can also just click the options dropdown in the MSTSC window, select the display tab and then click in the checkbox for use all my monitors for the remote session.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

1101

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#1475438 20-Jan-2016 14:41

toyonut:

You can also just click the options dropdown in the MSTSC window, select the display tab and then click in the checkbox for use all my monitors for the remote session.

Unfortunately, that tick box does nothing if the other per-requisites arn't met (eg Win ultimate/Ent/vol lic ) . That was the first thing I tried :-) Im guessing that where that works its on vol lic Win & Server201X/TS .

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1101

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Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1133

#1475507 20-Jan-2016 15:56

Ive had some spare time to have another play with this . Theres alot of FUD out there , as per usual when you try & get info via google searches

/multimon : didnt work PC to PC (both Win7 pro OEM)

/scan : this works only when both monitors are the same res (as above). But simply stretches the display across 2 monitors so isnt any real use

splitveiw app installed on main PC : this works with /scan . Its basicly the stretched display as per /scan, but allows you to use the monitors as 2 separate displays, like a fix that splits the stretched display. Splitview is both cheap & expensive (totally confusing price structure) so may be the easiest quick fix , depending on actual price.

I'll also look at the other 3rd party remote desktop managers suggested above, the cost of those seems cheap enough for 2 or 3 users . My only real worry with 3rd party apps is you dont know what bugs or instability they will introduce .

Now the next trick will be RDC across 3 monitors, I know thats what they'll want.

nunz

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#1477661 24-Jan-2016 09:17

Log me in pro works. You log in with the logmein client, it opens two screens (or more) - use it almost daily.

logmein.com

You also dont need to open holes in the firewall for this.