Connect Clients to Terminal Services

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to connect a Terminal Services client by using the Terminal Services client that Windows 2000 Server installation sets up for you. Terminal Services works with computer clients, Windows terminals that are using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), and handheld PCs that are using RDP.

Using Terminal Services Client

With the 32-bit Terminal Services client, you can access a server that is running Terminal Services and do any of the following:

	Connect with the Terminal Services client.
	Check Terminal Services client versions.
	Use shortcut keys.
	Cut and paste into local programs.
	Print Terminal Server programs to a local printer.
	Close Terminal Services client connections.

Connect with Terminal Services Client

To connect to Terminal Services:

Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, point to Terminal Services Items, point to Terminal Services Client, and then click Terminal Services Client.
In the Server box, type a terminal server name, IP address, or select a server from the Available servers box.
Under Screen, select the screen resolution for the terminal server window. If you are connecting by using a modem or a slow network, click Use data compression.
If you would like to have commonly-used bitmaps stored on your local hard disk, click Cache bitmaps to disk.
Click Connect.
The Log On to Windows dialog box appears in the Terminal Services Client window.
Type your user name, password, and domain (if required).

NOTE: If you previously disconnected from a Terminal server without ending the session, the Terminal Services Client reconnects to that session (if the connection is configured for the reconnection of disconnected sessions).

Check Terminal Services Client Version

To check the Terminal Services Client version:

Click Start, point to Programs, point to Administrative Tools, point to Terminal Services Items, point to Terminal Services Client, and then click Terminal Services Client.
Click About.

Use Shortcut Keys

The following key combinations are available from a Terminal Services client:

	CTRL+ALT+END opens the Windows Security dialog box.
	ALT+INSERT cycles through the programs in the order they were started.
	ALT+PAGE UP switches between programs from left to right.
	ALT+PAGE DOWN switches between programs from right to left.
	ALT+HOME displays the Start menu.
	ALT+DELETE displays the window's menu.
	CTRL+ALT+BREAK switches the client between a window (if applicable) and a full screen.
	CTRL+ALT+plus (+) symbol on the numeric keypad places a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal Server clipboard, and this provides the same functionality as pressing PRTSCN on a local computer.
	CTRL+ALT+minus (-) symbol on the numeric keypad places a snapshot of the active window, within the client, on the Terminal Server clipboard, and this provides the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRTSCN on a local computer.

NOTE: On an NEC98 computer, these are different in two cases:

	CTRL+ALT+BREAK is replaced by F12.
	CTRL+ALT+END is replaced by F15.

Cut and Paste Into Local Programs

Terminal Services provides seamless clipboard sharing, making clipboard contents available to programs locally on a user computer and within a Terminal Services session. To cut and paste from the client window into a program that is running locally:

The shared clipboard synchronizes its contents with the local clipboard, and you can view clipboard contents by using the Windows Clipbook Viewer tool (Clipbrd.exe). You can copy and paste text or graphics from a document within the client window, and then paste it into a document on your local computer. However, you cannot copy and paste files and folders.

When you cut or copy information from a program, it is moved to the clipboard and remains there until you clear the clipboard or until you cut or copy another piece of information. The clipboard window in ClipBook Viewer shows the contents of the clipboard. You can paste the information from the clipboard into any document as often as you like. However, the information is only stored on the clipboard temporarily.

Print Terminal Server Applications to Local Printer

Terminal Services provides printer redirection which routes print jobs from the terminal server to a printer that is attached to your local computer. There are two ways to provide access to local printers: automatic and manual printer redirection. Use manual redirection when your local printer requires a driver that is not available on the Windows 2000 Server. To print to your local printer from programs that are running on the terminal server, use the appropriate method.

Automatic Printer Redirection

	Printer redirection is automatic when the local printer uses a driver that is installed on the Windows 2000 server. When you log on to a session on the terminal server, any local printers that are attached to LPT, COM and USB ports and that are installed on the client computer are automatically detected and a local queue is created on the server. The client computer printer settings for the default printer and some properties (such as printing on both sides of the page) are used by the server.
	When a client disconnects or ends the session, the printer queue is deleted and any incomplete or pending print jobs are lost. Information about the client's local printers and settings are saved on the client computer. On subsequent logons, the printer queue is created by using the information that is stored on the client computer.
	If a printer driver is not found on the server, an event is logged and the client printer is not created. To make the printer available, the driver must be manually installed on the server.

Manual Printer Redirection

	Printers that are attached to LPT and COM ports on the client's local computer can be manually redirected, although manual redirection of printers that are connected through USB ports is not supported.
	To manually redirect a client printer, contact your administrator and provide the name of your computer (or IP address for a Windows-based terminal). The client must be connected to the terminal server during manual redirection.
	After the initial manual redirection, printers will be automatically redirected during subsequent logons.

NOTE: Redirected printers are available for use with applications running on the server. Redirected printers appear in the Printers folder in Control Panel and are named in this format: Client Printer Name/Client Computer Name/Session Number.

When you disconnect or log off from a session, the printer queue is deleted and incomplete or pending print jobs are lost.

Close Terminal Services Client Connection

You have the option of disconnecting with or without ending the session. Disconnecting without ending the session reconnects to this session the next time you connect to this terminal server if the connection is configured for the reconnection of disconnected sessions. Logging off ends the session, and the next time you log on, a new session will be started. To disconnect without ending a session:

In the Terminal Services Client window, click Start, and then click Shut Down.
In the What do you want the computer to do box, click Disconnect.

NOTE: The Terminal Services Client reconnects to this session the next time you connect to this server if the connection is configured for the reconnection of disconnected sessions.

To log off and end a session:

In the Terminal Services Client window, click Start and then click Shut Down.
In What do you want the computer to do? select Log off.

HOW TO: Connect Clients to Terminal Services By Using a Terminal Services Client in Windows 2000