Installing Remote Web Connection (optional)

host iconInstalling remote web connection will require your Windows XP CD. This installation is a little bit more complicated and will install Microsoft's IIS web server. Users who will only be connecting from a small number of computers probably do not need remote web connection. Remote web connection is best if you are connecting to the host computer from many different computers where it would be cumbersome to install the remote desktop client on each system. IIS also raises some security concerns (it is a full fledged web server) and users who perform this installation are advised to use Windows Update regularly to make sure that their system has the latest security patches.

  1. Go to Start | Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs.

  2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components on the left.

    windows components

  3. Check the Internet Information Services box and click the Details button.

    IIS

  4. In the Subcomponents of Internet Information Services list, select World Wide Web Service, and then click Details.

    WWW Service

  5. In the Subcomponents for World Wide Web Service list, click the Remote Desktop Web Connection check box, and then click OK and then OK once more.

    Remote Desktop Web Connection

  6. In the Windows Components Wizard, click Next. Windows will build a file list and may request your Windows XP CD. (Note: If the Windows XP installer screen opens after inserting the CD, you can exit the screen without taking action.) Click the Finish button when the wizard completes.

  7. Go to Control Panel | Administrative Tools and double-click Internet Information Services. (You must be in Classic View to access Administrative Tools. If you are not in Classic View, click the Classic View link on the left side of the control panel.)

    IIS Icon

  8. Expand the folders until you reach the[local computer name]\Web Sites\Default Web Site\tsweb folder.

    tsweb folder

  9. Right-click the tsweb folder and then click Properties.

  10. Click the Directory Security tab on the Properties dialog box.

    Directory Security Tab

  11. In Anonymous access and authentication control, click the Edit button.

  12. Make sure the Anonymous access check box is selected on the Authentication Methods dialog box, and then click OK. Click OK again to close the tsweb Properties dialog box, then close the Internet Information Services window.

    Anon Access

Remote Web Connection is now installed. Proceed to Connecting to Your Computer for information on accessing your computer remotely.

A Note about Firewalls

Remote Desktop runs a remote desktop server which is only accessible through certain ports. If you are running firewall software on your computer and you cannot connect to your computer, its probably because your firewall is blocking the connection.

You will need to open the following ports to allow incoming connections:

Remote Desktop port: 3389
Remote Web Connection port: 80

Once this port is open, you should be able to connect. For more information on firewalls, please visit our Firewall Security Center.

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