Remote Desktop Conection problem

Question

Level 1

0 points

Remote Desktop Conection problem

just got a imac (my first non MS machine in 15 years!). Downloaded
RDC from the MS and it installed fine. I am trying to connect to a Win 2003
server, but I keep getting the error "cannot find the remote computer,
make sure you have typed the correct name...etc.). The Win server is
set up and terminal services work perfectly well. several other
computers (windows based) connect to this computer using RDP. In fact
through the imac, I can connect to this same server using finder /
network...... Can read and write files to the server this way without
a problem using the same username and password I use in RDC. In
addition, I have installed Parrallels Desktop For Mac (which allows
you to install another operating system i.e. Win XP in a Virtual
Machine environment) and I have no problem connecting to the server
using this RDP running on the VM which is on the mac.
So I can connect to the Win server through various ways, but try as I
might, I cannot seem to connect using the RDP downloaded from this
site. I have rebooted, turned off firewalls, uninstalled and re-
installed RDP....done all the usual things.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could fix this?
Thanks

imac, Mac OS X (10.4.9), New Mac user....HELP!

Posted on May 5, 2007 8:14 PM

Reply

Answer 1

May 5, 2007 8:32 PM in response to parag_bhate

Since RDC is not an Apple product, you'll get better response if you use a forum dedicated to Microsoft's Mac products such as <http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=33607053> rather than an Apple forum.

Be sure to search the forum first in case someone has already had a similar question answered. You'll get your answer faster this way. Post your question in the forum if you don't find anything that helps you.

Reply

Answer 2

parag_bhate Author

Level 1

0 points

May 5, 2007 9:04 PM in response to Templeton Peck

Well I did search through the microsoft newsgroups for an answer. Also looked through this (apple) site for any postings with RDP in it, but couldn't find any questions or answers to my similar problem. Been stuggling with this for 3 days before I posted here. If I can't get it to work I am going to have to return my mac, which is the las thing I want to do cause I love it for the few days I have had it...... But I have to be able to control the desktop of a Win 2003 server.

Any suggestions at all?

Reply

Answer 3

mecklists

Level 4

1,795 points

May 5, 2007 10:54 PM in response to parag_bhate

Have you tried either the server's IP address or its fully qualified domain name ("server.domain.com" and not just "server")?

Are you leaving any details out of the situation such as connecting over VPN whereas your Windows computers are local to the server's network?

bill

1 GHz Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Reply

Answer 4

parag_bhate Author

Level 1

0 points

May 6, 2007 7:32 AM in response to mecklists

I am trying to conect through a local network. The Win server is not part of a domain but a simple workgroup. So I have tried using the name "server.workgroup" Funny thing is I can connect to this server just fine using Finder and then network. I've been moving files back and forth through finder without any problems. So the Serer is on the local network and imac is able to see it and talk to it. And as I said I can connect (using RDC) through "Parrellels Desktop for Mac" as well.

I have a few machines on the local network that accept remote desktop connections (1 Win 2003 server, but 3 other Win XP machines) and I can't connect to any of them using the RDC client for mac. I even tried uninstalling it and downloading it again...but keep getting the same error which is "cannot find computer, check the name, etc.

Reply

Answer 5

iFelix

Level 8

35,161 points

May 6, 2007 7:58 AM in response to parag_bhate

Try using the IP address rather than the name.

Reply

Answer 6

parag_bhate Author

Level 1

0 points

May 6, 2007 8:42 AM in response to iFelix

The server is set to obtain an IP address automatically. So it dosen't have a static IP.

Reply

Answer 7

May 6, 2007 9:11 AM in response to parag_bhate

The server is set to obtain an IP address automatically. So it dosen't have a static IP.
All servers should have a static IP address. It's not good practice to have a dynamially assigned IP address on any server.
You should strongly consider changing it to a statically assigned IP.

That aside, just find out what IP address the server currently has assigned, and use that in RDC client.

Reply

Answer 8

mecklists

Level 4

1,795 points

May 6, 2007 9:15 AM in response to parag_bhate

This is part of your problem then.

RDC for Mac will only connect to your server over TCP/IP. However, it doesn't send out a browse announcement across the network looking for devices that it can connect to. It must be told specifically where to connect. That can be a DNS name that points to the server's IP address or it can be the IP address itself.

Assigning a static (non-changing, hard-coded) IP address to servers and printers is just a best practice. You should really consider doing this. Otherwise, your server must be reporting its address to an internal DNS server and you must be using the correct name. The "server.workgroup" name doesn't make sense because it's not a proper naming convention and it doesn't mean anything in terms of Windows networking. I'm not surprised that doesn't work.

Becuase your server is in a Workgroup, I'm going to assume you probably don't have internal DNS servers. Therefore, your only option is to use an IP address. You'll make life easier on yourself if you hard-code it. Without doing so you will have to log in to the server each time you want to connect to verify its address.

Hope this helps! bill

Reply

Answer 9

parag_bhate Author

Level 1

0 points

May 8, 2007 3:04 PM in response to mecklists

Thanks Mecklists, I put in a static IP address and RDC worked like a charm. Works great.....who would have thought something so simple.......
thanks again for all your help!

Reply