Unable to connect to Remote Desktop

Problem

Unable to establish connection to a remote desktop from Desktop Central Server.

Cause

Problems in viewing remote desktops may occur due to one or more of the following reasons:

1. Firewall is blocking the communication.
   To confirm this, you can try connecting to the Desktop Central Server from the Client machine using Telnet. Execute the following command in the Command Prompt window: telnet<space>Desktop_Central_Server_IP<space>Remote_Control_Gateway_Port
   [Ex: telnet 192.168.110.23 8041]. If you are unable to connect, you can be sure that the firewall is blocking communication between the Desktop Central server and agent.
2. DC Agent is not installed
3. Inability to access the target computer.
4. Browser issues like absence of JAVA plug ins and Active X controls.

Resolution

Firewall Blocking the Communication

Firewall running in the machine in which Desktop Central MSP Server is installed may block requests.

• Add the TCP port 8041 to the exceptions list.
• Add "Remote Assistance" to the Exception List of windows Firewall.

DC Agent is not installed
Check if the Desktop Central Agent is installed in the Client Computer. If not install the agent in the client machines manually. The steps include:

Download the agent program from:

http://<host name>:<port number>/agent/<Remote_office_name>_DesktopCentralAgent.msi

where,

<host name> refers to the machine running Desktop Central and

<port number> refers to the Web port to access the client, the default being 8020.

Double-click the msi file to install the agent manually.

Problems accessing the target computers

• Check if the selected computer is down. If so, make it up and running.
• Specify and use the IP Address of the computers to connect, if you have computers with same name in two different domains/workgroups
• Verify whether the IP Address of the selected computer is shown correctly In case there is a Virtual IP, you will need to remove the virtual IP Address for Remote Control. The steps would include:
  1. Select the Tools tab and go to Remote Control.
  2. Click on Edit IP icon under the IP Address field.
  3. Remove the virtual IP address/ correct the IP address in the IP Address text field.
  4. Save Changes and Login afresh.
• Enable "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" in the network adapter of the client computers.
  The steps are as follows:

1. Select Start --> Settings --> Network Connections.
2. Right-click the network connection and select Properties.
3. In the connection properties dialog, select the General tab.
4. Select the "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" and click OK.
5. If you do not find this option, click Install button.
6. In the network component type, select Service and click Add.
7. Select File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks and click OK.
8. Click Close to exit the properties dialog

Browser issues

• Ensure your browser has Java plug-ins.
• Enable ActiveX Controls in Internet Explorer.

Applies to: Remote Desktop Management, Troubleshoot Remote Desktop, Remote Desktop Connection problems

Keywords: Remote Desktop, Manage Remote computers, Troubleshoot Remote machines