Dual Monitor RDC in Vista

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Guest

I hear that Vista's RDC is capable to work with dual (and multiple) monitors.
How do you get it to do that? I have two dual monitor Vista Ultimate x64
computers, but I just cannot get the RDC sessions between them to span both
monitors. How does one do that?
 
HrundiBakshi said:
I hear that Vista's RDC is capable to work with dual (and multiple)
monitors.
How do you get it to do that? I have two dual monitor Vista Ultimate x64
computers, but I just cannot get the RDC sessions between them to span
both
monitors. How does one do that?
Click to expand...

Use the /span switch. Go to "Start -> Run" and type "mstsc /?" for help...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
 
Use the /span switch. Go to "Start -> Run" and type "mstsc /?" for help...

Thanks. I don't suppose you know how to do this using Windows' GUI, i.e. not
in command-line mode... Say I put the desired .rdp file on the desktop.
Instead of double clicking on it, how would I have to proceed? Or should I
just write a batch file...?

Thanks again, HB
 
HrundiBakshi said:
Thanks. I don't suppose you know how to do this using Windows' GUI, i.e.
not
in command-line mode... Say I put the desired .rdp file on the desktop.
Instead of double clicking on it, how would I have to proceed? Or should I
just write a batch file...?

Thanks again, HB
Click to expand...

I would create a batch file that includes the /span switch and the custom
..rdp file would be what you need to create. Example:

mstsc yourPc.RDP /span

Then just put a short cut on your desktop that points to the batch file.
Unfortunately I have no way to test the /span switch.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
 
Sooner Al said:
I would create a batch file that includes the /span switch and the custom
.rdp file would be what you need to create. Example:

mstsc yourPc.RDP /span

Then just put a short cut on your desktop that points to the batch file.
Unfortunately I have no way to test the /span switch.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I did test it, and the spanning works (see below some comments
and questions). I did also make a batch file, and that one works too.

I am, now, a little confused about the spanning issue: am I seeing both
remote monitors on my local computer, or is it that what I am seeing is just
the remote computer's main monitor stretched across my local computer's two
monitors? There are some aspects that point to the latter: (a) the remote
computer's desktop background appears stretched, (b) an RDC session always
rearranges the remote computer's icons so that all icons move to its main
monitor, prompting me to manually move them back everytime and (c) the remote
computer's taskbar (which is on the main monitor) appears stretched across my
local computer's two monitors. There is also one aspect that points to the
former: all windows maintain their positions, during and after the RDC
session.

Any opinions on this one?

Thanks, HB
 
HrundiBakshi said:
Thank you. I did test it, and the spanning works (see below some comments
and questions). I did also make a batch file, and that one works too.

I am, now, a little confused about the spanning issue: am I seeing both
remote monitors on my local computer, or is it that what I am seeing is
just
the remote computer's main monitor stretched across my local computer's
two
monitors? There are some aspects that point to the latter: (a) the remote
computer's desktop background appears stretched, (b) an RDC session always
rearranges the remote computer's icons so that all icons move to its main
monitor, prompting me to manually move them back everytime and (c) the
remote
computer's taskbar (which is on the main monitor) appears stretched across
my
local computer's two monitors. There is also one aspect that points to the
former: all windows maintain their positions, during and after the RDC
session.

Any opinions on this one?

Thanks, HB
Click to expand...

I have never used the /span option so I have no experience with it. You
might query the TS experts over on the...

microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services

....news group for those type questions...

Good luck...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
 
The Vista RDP client does not fully support two seperate monitors. When you
use the /span switch, it treats the two monitors on the remote side as one
large monitor. The RDP window then spans this huge window across both of
your local monitors.

This has always been a limitation with any "terminal service" based product,
including Terminal Services itself, and also Citrix (which sits on top of TS).

Because of how the Vista RDP client uses this /span option, it's important
to note that in order for it to work, both monitors have to have the same
resolution. You can't have one resolution on one monitor and another
different resolution on the other. I'm not sure if this applies to the local
monitors, the remote monitors, or both.

I hope that helps.
 
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