Remote Desktop vs. NetMeeting
Microsoft makes two different Remote Control programs, NetMeeting
which runs on Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP and Remote Desktop which as a
server runs on Windows XP Professional/Server and as a client using Remote Desktop
Connection runs on Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP. iClose-Up runs, supports and enhances both NetMeeting and Remote
Desktop.
When you connect an iClose-Up Client to an iClose-Up Server if both the client and server computers are capable of running both programs (NetMeeting and Remote Desktop) iClose will give you the option of running either NetMeeting or Remote Desktop. If both programs are not an option then by default iClose-Up runs NetMeeting when you request Remote Control.
If you are wondering what the differences are between NetMeeting and Remote Desktop, and when you would want to use one over the other, we will attempt to briefly cover the two remotes below:
NetMeeting: NetMeeting was designed as a conferencing remote control program, where
you can have two or more people seeing the same screen at the same time. When you connect an iClose-Up Client to an
iClose-Up Server whatever the iClose-Up Client sees on the screen can also be
seen by anyone at the iClose-Up Server computer. This is great for collaborative work or remote support, but can
be a negative if you are working on something confidential and you do not want
anyone who walks by the iClose-Up Server computer to be able to turn on the
monitor and see what you are doing.
NetMeeting’s screen images are displayed faster then Remote
Desktop’s.
NetMeeting works well on slow modem connections 14.4 kbps and works great on hi-speed DSL, Cable Modem and T1
connections. Remote
Desktop on the other
hand works best on hi-speed connections like DSL,
Cable Modem and T1 connections. On slow
connections Remote Desktop screens are, slow.
Technical
Note: When you use NetMeeting the iClose-Up Server side must be logged
in. If you run NetMeeting between an iClose-Up Client and iClose-Up
Server and then end your remote session you can run NetMeeting again between the iClose-Up Client and
Server. But once you run Remote Desktop between an iClose-Up Client and
Server you cannot run NetMeeting again because the Server side will be logged out. If someone at the Server side loges the
computer back in, then NetMeeting can be run on that computer again.
Remote Desktop: Remote
Desktop was designed as a solo remote control
program where only one person (the person on the client side) can see the
screen. This is ideal when you want to
work on sensitive material and you do not want anyone who walks by the
iClose-Up Server computer to be able to turn on the monitor and see what you
are doing. When the iClose-Up Client
side runs Remote Desktop the iClose-Up Server side logs out whoever was logged in and brings up
a login screen on the Server side. Then
when the iClose-Up Client side logs into the Server they see the iClose-Up
Servers screen and can control the iClose-Up Server computer, but on the Server
side the screen stays at the login screen and does not show what the iClose-Up
Client sees.
Remote
Desktop’s screen images are displayed slower then NetMeeting’s.
Remote Desktop works best on hi-speed connections like DSL,
Cable Modem and T1 connections. NetMeeting on the other hand works well on slow
modem connections 14.4 kbps and works great on hi-speed DSL, Cable Modem and T1 connections.
Technical
Note: When you use Remote Desktop the iClose-Up Server side will be
logged out when you take remote control.
If you run Remote Desktop between an iClose-Up Client and iClose-Up Server and then end your
remote session you can run Remote Desktop again as many times as you want between the iClose-Up Client and
Server. But once you run Remote Desktop between an iClose-Up Client and
Server you cannot run NetMeeting because the Server side will be logged out. If someone at the Server side loges the computer back in, then NetMeeting can be run on that computer.
To use Remote Desktop
for remote control you will need to enable the option on the XP
Professional or XP Server computer and install the Remote Desktop Connection
(the client side software) on the remote computer if it is not a Windows XP
machine. All versions of Windows XP
have built in support for the Remote Desktop Connection client
already. Only Windows XP
Professional and Windows XP Server editions have the necessary Remote
Desktop components to act as a server. Windows XP Server enables remote control by default. Windows XP Professional disables remote
control by default. To enable or disable
remote control on the computer that will act as the server side (the side that
gets connected to) follow the listed steps below:
1.
Click the START button
2.
Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties
3.
Click the tab labeled Remote
4.
Check or uncheck the box labeled
‘Remote Desktop’ to enable or disable this feature
By default the only user accounts enabled to use Remote
Desktop are the accounts in the local Administrator group. To make other users capable of accessing Remote
Desktop, follow these steps below:
1.
In the window we were left at with the steps above, click
the Select Remote Users button
2.
Click the Add button
3.
Enter the account name, and if necessary, domain information
for all of the accounts you wish to access Remote Desktop on this
computer
4.
Click OK
With Remote Desktop enabled on the Windows XP
Professional or Windows XP Server machine, you can now connect via TCP/IP with
any Windows machine that has the Remote Desktop Connection client
software and control it. All Windows XP
machines have this client software installed by default. If you are using Windows 95/98/Me or NT/2000
as your client, you will need to install the client software separately. Currently, the only available location in
which to install the Remote Desktop Connection client software is the
Windows XP installation CD. Complete
the following directions on the remote computer to install the Remote
Desktop Connection client:
1.
Insert the Windows XP installation CD in the remote
computer’s CD-ROM drive. (note: any
version of the Windows XP installation CD has the necessary software)
2.
When the Welcome page appears click Perform additional
tasks
3.
Click Setup Remote Desktop Connection and follow the
directions