Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

CyberAxe — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:28:29 GMT

Thank you so much for this, this is amazing. Is this in 7RC 7100? Please include this in Live Mesh.

Is Aero going to be supported with MultiMonitors under the RTM of Win7?

John — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:48:58 GMT

Is Aero going to be supported with MultiMonitors under the RTM of Win7?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Elton Saul — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:02:38 GMT

John: Aero is not supported with true RDP multimon for Win7. If you specify both desktop composition and multimon for a Remote Desktop connection, then multimon takes precedence and you will not get desktop composition.

-Elton [MSFT]

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

John — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:22:48 GMT

I think this will make quite a few people annoyed. Surely there are plans for Aero support across multiple monitors?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Elton Saul — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:40:56 GMT

John: Making true RDP multimon and desktop composition work together is definitely something we are looking into supporting in the future.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

John Biesi — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:52:11 GMT

My clients are in the financial industry and plenty of them have 8x24" or 2x30" monitors, so there resolution is well above the default 4096 x 2048 max default. Is there any way to override that so their RemoteApp or RDP can fill the entire view?

(Note: their applications use enough resources that we usually keep a 1:1 ratio of remote sessions to TS servers)

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Casey Dvorak [MSFT] — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:41:17 GMT

"Is this in 7RC 7100?"

Multiple monitor support has been in since the Beta release 7000. It is in 7100 as well.

--Casey [MSFT]

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Casey Dvorak [MSFT] — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:46:17 GMT

Hi John,

With the Windows 7 multimon feature, each monitor has a limit of 4096x2048 *per monitor*. This means that even the 30" setup, which has 2560x1600 per monitor will work just fine (up to 16 monitors).

The limitation you are referring to was common to the WS2008 feature "span mode," which actually makes a single monitor on the server side with the union of the resolution of the client monitors. In your example above, span would create one monitor on the server with resolution 2560*2x1600 = 5120x1600, going beyond the single monitor limit. However, with WS2008 R2 multimon it will create two monitors on the server each with 2560x1600 resolution, with each monitor being below the limit.

To be clear, this will remove the same limitations for RemoteApp, since in WS2008 R2 and the Win7 client multimon is being used in the backend in place of span in WS2008/Vista.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Paul Gafa — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:35:40 GMT

Are all monitors running in the same RDP session?

What changes were done in the protocol, is there anything online yet?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

John Biesi — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:18:07 GMT

Casey,

That is outstanding news! I can't wait for R2 :)

Thank you, -JB

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Janssen Jones [Virtual Machine MVP] — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:37:27 GMT

I'd like to see support at the client side for setting max monitors. I have four monitors, and want to be able to use *2* of the four for one RDP session (and keep my other two for apps running locally). The current client implementation seems to only allow one or all. It appears from the post that this max monitor setting can be set at the server. I'm building a 7201 server right now just to test that feature. :) But ideally, I'd like to be able to say mstsc /v:MYCOMPUTER /multimonitor 2. I'll file that on Connect as well. :)

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Gumnam Haikoi — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:10:59 GMT

What RDP protocol changes were made for this change? Have these changes been made public, and in which of the MS-RDP* MCPP documents?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Gumnam Haikoi — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:11:05 GMT

What RDP protocol changes were made for this change? Have these changes been made public, and in which of the MS-RDP* MCPP documents?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

agrawalamit2005 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:11:45 GMT

To get those RDP7 new feature(Aero effect, Client rendering, multimoniotr support etc.), will RDP client make any connection.As of now, RDP client makes only 1 connection to 3389 port.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Eric Holk [MSFT] — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:44:20 GMT

Gumnam,

The protocol changes for multiple monitors are documented in MS-RDPBCGR. For example, the new Monitor Layout PDU is documented at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd341197(PROT.10).aspx

-Eric

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Me — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:09:51 GMT

The client works flawlessly in XP 64 also.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Robert Jr. — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:29:54 GMT

And what about bandwidt, this consumes a lot I Guess. Any way to calculate adiconal bandwith per monitor ?

Of course this is amazing !!!

Jr.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Casey Dvorak [MSFT] — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:31:58 GMT

Hi Robert,

You shouldn't see any more data usage for multiple monitors than you would for a single monitor of similar resolution. It all depends on the scenario, and how much of the screen is changing at any given time. The actual multimon feature does not add any significant bandwidth overhead, but if you have twice as many pixels which need to get updated, you will see a bandwidth increase.

For a simple example, if you need to draw a desktop background on a two monitor XGA setup, you'd need to update:

1024*768*2=1.6 megapixels

For a single UXGA monitor, you'd need to update:

1600*1200=1.9 megapixels

So really, the overall size and rate of the screen change is the most important indicator of the amount of bandwidth used, not necesarily multimon. However, it should be noted that now users can create sessions with overall screen sizes larger than the previous limit of 4096x2048, which can be mitigated by using the new multimon GPs.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Danut Enachioiu — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:00:25 GMT

I've been using this for some time and I love it. I have a suggestion though for Win 8: could you make this "multimon" option available at runtime while connected?

My problem is that I would often need to switch from single to multi and back on a connection, and disconnecting and reconnecting everytime, even with jumplists, is tiresome.

Let me give you an example of real life usage: I work dual monitor on a development machine, then suddenly I get a chat request on the real machine - I want to keep working but keep the chat window visible, so I typically switch to a single monitor remote at that point. Then when chat is over, I switch back to dual monitor. I do this a lot now by disconnecting and reconnecting from the jump list, but again, it's tiresome.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Mike — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:44:51 GMT

My users are going to love this...however, I'm not sure they can have it.

Our solution requires embedding the ocx into an exe; the users run that exe for RDP and other functionality.

How can we work with the ocx client to support multiple monitors?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Andrew — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:15:59 GMT

Windows 7 Ultimate Only?

Been looking at the Windows 7 RTM bits and the only way I can get the multiple-monitors feature to work is if I connect TO a Win7 Ultimate install. Connecting TO a Win7 Pro does NOT give me all my monitors.

Has anyone else run into this? I have not seen this described anywhere yet. Am I missing an option?

Setup:

- Win7 Pro or Ultimate client

- RDP connecting to Win7 Pro - Does not work

- RDP connecting to Win7 Ultimate - Works fine

Thanks

-Andrew

- Also, I'd love to see the option for only using specified monitors for the rdp window - we have several workstations that need to connect to several remote clients and would like to specify which monitors to use.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Sander — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:43:28 GMT

Andrew, I have the same issue.

When I connect to my Win 7 Ultimate (RC) I get all the monitors. But, when I connect to my Win 7 Pro (Final) I only get one monitor.

I checked the values in the Limit maximum number of monitors in gpedit.msc, but no luck.

Can't seem to find a lot of info about this yet though.

Any thoughts?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

yan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:04:19 GMT

same problem here. I cant use all client monitors connecting from Win7 Pro to Win7 Pro.

I never tried when I had ultimate installed...

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Munindra Das [MSFT] — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:21:48 GMT

This feature is supported only on the following SKUs:

Windows 7:

Enterprise

Ultimate

Windows Server 2008 R2:

Server Standard

Server Enterprise

Server Datacenter

Thanks!

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

ocnstiggs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:30:41 GMT

What I'd like to understand is whether there is a way to do dual monitor emulation. What I would like to do is have a dual monitor setup on the host, and match the resolution and monitor count on the client such that when I start up the client I will see exactly the layout that I had when I left the host, and when I exit the client and go back to the host, the layout will look exactly the same on the host as it did from the client when I ended the remote session. Is that possible? I don't have W7 yet, but if upgrading to 7 was necessary to be able to do something like this, I would strongly consider upgrading.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Robert Sewell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:01 GMT

"This feature is supported only on the following SKUs:

"Windows 7:

"Enterprise

"Ultimate"

Not according to Microsoft's own FAQ:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Remote-Desktop-Connection-frequently-asked-questions

See the answer to the fifth question, and note that at the top of the page it says "Applies to all editions of Windows 7."

So, maybe someone should let MS's marketing in on this little secret, before more people buy the wrong version based on MS's own misinformation, like I did. You think?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

andy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:03:52 GMT

I new licenses for our office on the way thinking that Pro supports multimon... a bit ridiculous since the site Robert pointed out clearly states that it should.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Florian Lim — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:28:01 GMT

Regarding the true multimon support when connecting to a Windows 7 host, I have been able to confirm that it works with a fresh install Windows 7 Ultimate but not with a fresh install of Windows 7 Professional.

However, considering that the Microsoft Action Pack includes 10 licenses for Windows 7 Professional and only one license for Windows 7 Ultimate I fail to see the reason for this difference in these two editions.

Additionally, searching the web I have only found user comments regarding this difference, while the more or less official announcements and reviews that I have found so far generally state that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 support this new feature.

Is there any chance that Windows 7 Professional merely requires some editing in the registry to enable this feature (similar to enabling NLA in Windows XP SP3)?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Paul Steele — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:44:08 GMT

I've set up two systems with two monitors each runing Win7Pro. When I used remote desktop to connect to the other system, I get a copy of all of the remote windows on my primary monitor. I can then move the various windows to the second monitor and end up with something similar to what I was connecting to. When I disconnect, the windows on the remote system are restored to their original size and location.

When I tried the same test with Ultimate I get the same results. Am I missing something?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

andy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:01:56 GMT

Well it's nice to know microsoft was paying attention... They changed the website so that now it says only ultimate and enterprise support multimon. Rather then following through with what their website stated. They just changed their website leaving everyone that previously looked at their website to get product details wondering where the hell their multimon support is.

This is frustrating. It makes or breaks some peoples purchase decisions and here we have Microsoft changing their website without an explanation.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:45:10 GMT

What tools or configuration should I launch on Windows 2008 for remote desktop service to activate "Multimon" (NOT SPAN) capablity? I'm looking for a solution even If I have to buy extra viedo card for my server (2008 R2 enterprise)

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:55:04 GMT

As you are probably aware, multimon is a 2008 R2 & Win7 feature. If you need this functionality on downlevel remote desktop session hosts or VDI we can do this with Quest vWorkspace, and I believe Citrix can also do this with XenDesktop/XenApp. I think iShadow also has a product called Virtual Display Manager that can probably do this.

Let me know if this helps.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:07:55 GMT

And a basic "MULTI-mon" support cannot be integraded/turn-on without purchasing a third party soltuion. What is this another Backup solution where I have to open up my wallet?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:10:09 GMT

Help me MS. "Multimon" doesn't work!! Don't want to waste license on TS CAL. We are licensed for Server CAL's and the "ADDITIONAL" TS Cals..

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:25:52 GMT

I'm not BS-ting. Here is my RDP config on the client. I think it is hidden somewhere (regedit) on Win2k8 R2/Ent.

Thanks,

screen mode id:i:2

desktopwidth:i:1280

desktopheight:i:1024

session bpp:i:16

use multimon:i:1

winposstr:s:0,1,315,111,1115,711

compression:i:1

keyboardhook:i:2

displayconnectionbar:i:1

disable wallpaper:i:1

disable full window drag:i:1

allow desktop composition:i:0

allow font smoothing:i:0

disable menu anims:i:1

disable themes:i:0

etc.....

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:39:03 GMT

Multimon is a 2008 R2 or Win7 feature, so if your remote desktop is one of those OS, and you're using an version 7 of mstsc.exe (Remote Desktop Client) from XP->Win7 Client OS, you should have access to multimon out of the box.

You would only need 3rd party software if using 2008 RTM, but after looking more closely at your original post you're using R2 so you should be good for multimon.

In group policy you can enforce maximum display resolution and maximum number of monitors supported (1-10). This is done in:

Computer Config -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Remote Session Environment.

You might also want to check in Server Manager under the Remote Desktop Session Host Role, to see if settings are enforced there that would prevent multimon.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:42:04 GMT

I know MS has a lot of BAKER on their kitchen.

Look at this.

""Computer Config -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Remote Session Environment. ""

This is from my server and looks a little different. (No "remote desktop services" on "windows components")

I have this on computer config.

Computer Config -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components ->Terminal Service-->

--1.Remote Desktop Connection client

--2.Terminal Server

--3.TS Licensing

And cannot find anywwhere the "Maximum number of monitors supported" setting. Even under "User configuration"

I am at lost!!. I thought the client mstsc.exe (or dot .rdp) should (and MUST) override the setting as far as the spanning OR multi-monitor setting is concerned.

All I want is Multimonitor with one RDP session.

Thanks again.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:50:20 GMT

My system is 208 R2 in a 2008 R2 Active Directory Forest. If you see "Terminal Services" in GPO then your AD is <= 2008. If you see this in local policy, then your OS is <= 2008. If you don't plan to upgrade AD to 2008 R2 (as that's a much bigger decision), you can use the local policies on your Remote Desktop Session Host via gpedit.msc.

I understand what you want.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:07:57 GMT

You are very helpful my friend.

Here is the "about Windows"

Version 6.0 (Build 6001: Service Pack 1) And IT (Windows 2008 2008 Enterprise) is a member server on my Win2003 Domain Controller

My Domain environment is the result of the "TRANSITION" from a single server Win2kDC/WinExchange2000 setup.(Did the domain upgrade myself and now I am having a challenge on this terminal server setup)

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:15:58 GMT

Sorry, I know it probably feels like you're banging your head against the wall at this point. Sometimes I forget that not everyone has been using TS for a long time.

To use Multimon your Remote Desktop Session Host (Terminal Server) will need to be 2008 R2 [Version 6.1.7600] and your client OS will need to be >= Windows XP SP3 with Remote Desktop Client 7.0.

I'm happy to help, so keep the questions coming, and let me know if you're not following, or if I've misunderstood your questions.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:36:03 GMT

Thanks again.

Just an FYI -

I was able to launch "gpedit.msc" from "start", "run" and got a windows "Local Group Policy Editor". Same with the snap-in "grouppolicyobjecteditor.msc" "group policy object editor version 1" - I created a month ago. It appears it inherited a lot of the setting from my old DC( from Win2k to Win2003 and now Win2008). I am not sure.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:50:58 GMT

I'll try updating my Win2008 Ent "R2" with SP2 see if this update will fix it. If not, I hope MS is reading this MSDN blog and they have a quick fix for me.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:01:34 GMT

2008 R2 was just released on October 22 and has no service packs. 2008 and 2008 R2 are different OS builds, as 2008 was released around the time of Vista, and 2008 R2 is brand new, and only ships in X64.

Please go to the cmd prompt on your server, type "ver" without quotes, hit enter and tell me what you see. If you see something different than what is listed below, you are NOT running R2.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

C:\Users\Administrator>ver

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

C:\Users\Administrator>

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:29:32 GMT

Thank you so MUCH Patrick.

And thank you Microsoft for your product "Microsoftr"

Tik,

Here is the systeminfo.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]

C:\Users\admin>ver

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]

C:\Users\admin>

C:\Users\admin>systeminfo

Host Name: T-1000-Terminator

OS Name: Microsoftr Windows Serverr 2008 Enterprise

OS Version: 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001

OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

OS Configuration: Member Server

OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free

Registered Owner: Windows User

Registered Organization:

Product ID: 92777-OEM-XYXYXYXY-10277

Original Install Date: 11/2/2009, 8:49:07 PM

System Boot Time: 12/7/2009, 3:10:25 PM

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

System Model: PowerEdge R610

System Type: x64-based PC

Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed. [01]: Intel64 Family 6 Model 26 Stepping 5 GenuineIntel ~2660 Mhz

BIOS Version: Dell Inc. 1.2.6, 7/17/2009

Windows Directory: C:\Windows

System Directory: C:\Windows\system32

Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume2

System Locale: en-us;English (United States)

Input Locale: en-us;English (United States)

Time Zone: (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Total Physical Memory: 24,565 MB

Available Physical Memory: 21,322 MB

Page File: Max Size: 48,686 MB

Page File: Available: 45,853 MB

Page File: In Use: 2,833 MB

Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys

Domain: MYDOMAIN.local

Logon Server: \\Winhows2003

Hotfix(s): 76 Hotfix(s) Installed.

[01]: 944036

[02]: KB940518

[03]: KB948609

[04]: KB948610

[05]: KB949189

[06]: KB950050

[07]: KB950762

[08]: KB950974

[09]: KB951066

[10]: KB951698

[11]: KB951978

[12]: KB952004

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[15]: KB953733

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[18]: KB954459

[19]: KB955020

[20]: KB955069

[21]: KB955302

[22]: KB955430

[23]: KB956572

[24]: KB956744

[25]: KB956802

[26]: KB957097

[27]: KB957200

[28]: KB957321

[29]: KB958481

[30]: KB958483

[31]: KB958623

[32]: KB958624

[33]: KB958644

[34]: KB958687

[35]: KB958869

[36]: KB959108

[37]: KB959130

[38]: KB959426

[39]: KB960225

[40]: KB960803

[41]: KB961371

[42]: KB961501

[43]: KB967190

[44]: KB967723

[45]: KB968389

[46]: KB968537

[47]: KB968816

[48]: KB969058

[49]: KB969947

[50]: KB970238

[51]: KB970653

[52]: KB971486

[53]: KB971557

[54]: KB971657

[55]: KB971961

[56]: KB971961

[57]: KB972036

[58]: KB972145

[59]: KB972594

[60]: KB973507

[61]: KB973525

[62]: KB973540

[63]: KB973565

[64]: KB973687

[65]: KB973874

[66]: KB974291

[67]: KB974455

[68]: KB974455

[69]: KB974469

[70]: KB974571

[71]: KB975364

[72]: KB975467

[73]: KB975517

[74]: KB976098

[75]: KB976470

[76]: KB976749

Network Card(s): 4 NIC(s) Installed.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:35:58 GMT

If it is not R2, How can I make it R2? I am sure the OEM CD that came with it is R2 Since we order it preloaded mid October 2009.

FYI - Here is the info on SP2 for 2008.

indows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 for x64-based Systems (KB948465)

Download size: 87.0 MB - 567.3 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 is an update to Windows Server 2008 that includes all of the updates that have been delivered since product release, as well as support for new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Server 2008 License Terms

More information:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948465

Help and Support:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd767387.aspx

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:36:43 GMT

As I suspected, you are running 2008 SP1, not 2008 R2. The OS you have can NOT (out of the box) deliver multimonitor, except for spanning. Your options are to install Server 2008 R2 instead (don't upgrade, do a clean install), or use one of the 3rd party products I previously mentioned.

http://capitalhead.com/articles/how-to-find-build-and-revision-number-of-windows-vista-or-windows-server-2008-installed.aspx

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:43:03 GMT

"OS Name: Microsoftr Windows Serverr 2008 Enterprise"

Did we get a bogus OS from Dell? Look at the spelling of "Microsoft" and "Sever". I am sure MS Engineers has tools to do some sort of spell checking

"LOL"

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:46:11 GMT

As I stated before, 2008 and 2008 R2 are differennt versions of Windows, just like Vista and Win7. One can't just download an update to go from 2008 to 2008 R2, it's a complete new OS install. Service Pack 2 for 2008 is NOT 2008 R2.

If you have Software Assurance for Windows Server, you can download 2008 R2 from Microsoft, but if the system came pre-loaded with an OEM version of 2008, and didn't come with an upgrade certificate, you're stuck having upgrade to 2008 R2. I can't say for certain for the Server OS, but for the client OS one can purchase an upgrade for an OEM version of Windows, then enroll it in SA. From whom did you purchase the Server?

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:02:53 GMT

We do have software assurance for XP (Volume lic) and Servers. I'm not sure about Enterprise edition.

Time to call MS for the TS licensing and first make sure I can deactivate/transfer TS cal on my current installation.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

chriso — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:04:18 GMT

I'm banging my head against the table here. trying to get this to work. Should the new multi monitor feature be possible with this setup?

Connecting from home to work:

home: win 7 pro with monitors of differet sizes (1920x1200 and 1280x1024)

work: dual monitors on win xp sp3 with mstsc 7

When I choose the "Use all monitors for the remote session" option, it doesn't take up both monitors at home. Does my work pc need win7 too? Thanks.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:07:41 GMT

No, this will not work. The RDP Session Host, in your case the XP SP3 machine, must be running Win7 or 2008 R2 to deliver a Multimonitor experience to the version 7 remote desktop client. What you are doing is trying to connect a Win7 client to a XP SP3 RDP Session host, so you should only get a spanned desktop.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:06:39 GMT

Patrick you deserved a pat in the back. I lost a couple of hair here and finally got it going using the edition I got from MS tour (NEw Efficiency Seminar).

It works just by adding/activating the feature (RDS) on the server.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

U:\>systeminfo

Host Name: WINR2-ENT-B8

OS Name: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise

OS Version: 6.1.7600 N/A Build 7600

OS Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

OS Configuration: Member Server

OS Build Type: Multiprocessor Free

Registered Owner: Windows User

Registered Organization:

Product ID: 00486-001-5551212-87778

Original Install Date: 12/9/2009, 10:59:48 AM

System Boot Time: 12/9/2009, 11:45:29 AM

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

System Model: OptiPlex GX620

System Type: x64-based PC

Processor(s): 1 Processor(s) Installed.

[01]: Intel64 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 4 GenuineInt

el ~2992 Mhz

BIOS Version: Dell Inc. A05, 10/13/2005

Windows Directory: C:\Windows

System Directory: C:\Windows\system32

Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume1

System Locale: en-us;English (United States)

Input Locale: en-us;English (United States)

Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Total Physical Memory: 1,014 MB

Available Physical Memory: 477 MB

Virtual Memory: Max Size: 2,038 MB

Virtual Memory: Available: 1,405 MB

Virtual Memory: In Use: 633 MB

Page File Location(s): C:\pagefile.sys

Domain: MSMONEY.local

Logon Server: \\CHINGCHING-01

Hotfix(s): N/A

Network Card(s): 1 NIC(s) Installed.

[01]: Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller

Connection Name: Local Area Connection

DHCP Enabled: No

IP address(es)

[01]: 192.168.88.177

[02]: fe80::580d:d3ed:a7d6:fc3f

U:\>ver

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

U:\>

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

Patrick Rouse — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:30:36 GMT

You're very welcome. Merry Christmas!

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

tik — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:59:44 GMT

FYI- I am using the new RDP client on XP SP3 with a registry change.(CREDSSP is off by default)

Merry merry Christmas too and a happy new year.

You are a good guy.

re: Using Multiple Monitors in Remote Desktop Session

David — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:25:32 GMT

So if I understand correctly, multimon should work when connecting from Windos 7 Ultimate to Windows 7 Pro right? Because here, it doesn't..