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Remote Desktop Protocol Features

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Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is the native presentation protocol for Microsoft® Windows NT® Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition and Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Terminal Services. RDP allows a thin client, such as a Windows-based Terminal, to communicate with a terminal server across a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) or by means of a dial-up, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), digital subscriber line (DSL), or virtual private network (VPN) connection. The RDP protocol uses TCP/IP as its transport protocol and is based on the recommended standard for data protocols for multimedia conferencing (ITU T.120), as defined by the International Telecommunications Union.

RDP version 5.1 has the following key features:

  • Unicode compatibility.
  • Configuration for any environment that allows network localization, automatic disconnect, and remote configuration.
  • Support for three levels of encryption.
  • Variable bandwidth allocation through client-side bitmap caching and optional compression for low-bandwidth connections, significantly improving performance over low-bandwidth connections.
  • Roaming disconnect that allows a user to disconnect from a Terminal Services session without logging off or being logged off.
  • Multichannel-capable protocol that permits separate virtual channels for carrying presentation data, serial-device communication (keyboard and mouse), licensing information, and heavily encrypted data.
  • Multipoint data delivery that allows data from an application to be delivered to multiple parties without having to send the same data to each session individually.
  • Remote control lets the support staff view and control a Terminal Services session. Sharing input and display graphics between two Terminal Services sessions lets a support person diagnose and resolve problems remotely.
  • Network Load Balancing (NLB), available in Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Datacenter Server.
  • High Color 16-bit graphics.
  • Copy-and-paste capability between the remote session and the local computer.
  • Common Clipboard for simple data interchange.
  • Local-printer redirection so server applications can print locally to the client device.
  • Local audio playback so server applications can direct audio to the client device or play at the terminal server.
  • Local-port redirection so server applications can use parallel and COM ports of the client device.
  • Local file redirection so server apps can use the file system (including ATA) of the client device

Windows NT Terminal Server uses RDP 4.0 as its native data protocol. Windows 2000 Terminal Services uses RDP 5.0, while Windows XP Professional Edition and Microsoft Windows CE .NET use RDP 5.1 and later. All versions are compatible, so Microsoft® Windows® CE.NET clients can connect to any of these servers.

Note   The Windows Installer does not permit installations from a Remote Desktop Connection.

For more information on the ITU-T T.120 data protocol standards, see the International Telecommunication Union Web site.

See Also

Remote Desktop Protocol

 Last updated on Saturday, April 10, 2004

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