RDP Support in Windows Embedded CE (Windows Embedded CE 6.0)

Article
01/05/2012

1/6/2010

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is the native presentation protocol for Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and in later versions of Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server.

RDP is also available in Windows XP Professional, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 operating system.

RDP Overview

With RDP, a Windows Embedded CE powered device, such as a thin client, can communicate with a Windows-based server that runs Terminal Services across one of the following:

A local area network (LAN)
A wide area network (WAN)
A dial-up connection
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
A Digital subscriber line (DSL)
A virtual private network (VPN) connection

The RDP protocol uses TCP/IP as its transport protocol, based on the recommended standard for data protocols for multimedia conferencing (ITU T.120), as defined by the International Telecommunications Union.

In Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2, RDP has one mode of operation. It operates in ActiveX Control mode and runs inside its own process space. By running in ActiveX Control mode, a Terminal Services session that is using RDP can operate in a Web browser.

RDP Features

RDP for Windows Embedded CE provides the following categories of functionality.

Terminal Services Features

Remote Desktop Connection: RDP provides the Remote Desktop Connection client. This enables a Windows Embedded CE powered device to establish a connection with a server that is running Terminal Services.
Remote Desktop Web Connection: RDP enables a developer to create a Remote Desktop connection in a Web browser by using the Remote Desktop ActiveX Control.
Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CAL) maintenance tool: This Control Panel utility is available in any OS design that supports Control Panel programs, for example, the Enterprise Terminal design template. The TS CAL maintenance tool requires that the Remote Desktop Connection client be included in the run-time image.

For more information, see Windows Embedded CE Terminal Services Client (CETSC), TS CAL Maintenance Tool, and Remote Desktop ActiveX Control Interfaces.

Security Features

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS): RDP supports SSL and TLS protocols for encrypting data that is sent through an RDP channel.
Network Level Authentication (NLA): RDP supports Network Level Authentication, an authentication method that finishes the user authentication process before a full Remote Desktop Connection is established and the logon screen appears.
Server Authentication: RDP supports Server Authentication (SA). This is used to verify that a thin client is connecting to an authorized remote server.

For more information, see RDP Security.

Networking Features

Network Load Balancing (NLB): RDP supports Network Load Balancing (NLB), available in Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server and in later versions of Windows-based servers.
Additional networking features: RDP supports operation in any environment that enables network localization, automatic disconnect, and remote configuration.

Data Exchange Features

Unicode compatibility: RDP provides Unicode compatibility. This enables you to send Unicode character values as virtual key codes for keyboard input.
Network bandwidth management: RDP provides variable bandwidth allocation by using client-side bitmap caching and optional compression for low-bandwidth connections. This significantly improves performance over low-bandwidth connections.
Virtual channels: RDP supports a multichannel-capable protocol that enables separate virtual channels to carry presentation data, serial-device communication, licensing information, and heavily encrypted data.
Remote-Control Persistent Virtual Channels: RDP provides remote-control persistent virtual channels. This lets support staff remotely view and control a Terminal Services session. By sharing input and display graphics between two Terminal Services sessions, a support person can diagnose and resolve problems remotely.

For more information, see Bitmap Cache for RDP and Virtual Channels Implementation.

Redirection Features

Local drive redirection: RDP supports local drive redirection so that server applications can use the file system (including ATA) of the client device.
File redirection: RDP supports a file redirection filter that exposes only specific directories. If you specify that only external storage, such as Compact Flash or USB storage, be exposed through the redirected drive, information is saved only to the redirected drive.
Clipboard redirection: RDP provides clipboard sharing, also known as clipboard redirection. With clipboard redirection, the client clipboard becomes a part of the clipboard viewer chain in the remote session. This lets the user copy and paste files between applications that are running on both the remote session and on the local client.
Printer redirection: RDP provides printer redirection so that server applications can print to a printer connected to the client device.
Local audio playback: RDP supports local audio playback so that server applications can direct audio output to the client device.
Local port redirection: RDP supports local-port redirection so that server applications can use the parallel ports and COM ports on the client device.
Smart Card redirection: RDP supports smart card redirection so that a user can log on to a remote server by using a Smart Card. The server authenticates the user by using credentials on a Smart Card plugged into a Smart Card reader attached to the user device.

For more information, see Filtered File Storage Redirection and Peripheral Hardware.

Display and Graphics Features

High-color graphics: High-color 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit graphics are supported if they are also supported in the graphics driver.
Custom display resolutions: RDP supports custom display resolutions for displaying bitmaps on the attached display monitor.
Monitor spanning: RDP supports monitor spanning. This enables the RDP session to display across multiple monitors.

For more information, see Multiple Screens, How to Support Multiple Screens on a Device, and Display Resolution in Thin Client.

Servers and RDP Versions

Windows NT Terminal Server uses RDP 4.0 as its native data protocol. Windows 2000 Terminal Services supports RDP 5.0, while Windows XP Professional Edition supports RDP 5.1. Windows Server 2008 supports RDP 6.0.

Windows CE 5.0 supports RDP 5.2, and Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 supports RDP 6.0. All versions are compatible. Therefore, Windows Embedded CE powered clients can connect to any of these servers.

Note

Windows Installer does not allow for software installations from a Remote Desktop Connection.

For more information about the ITU-T T.120 data protocol standards, see the International Telecommunication Union Web site.

RDP and Terminal Services

For more information about Terminal Services, see this Microsoft Web site. For more information on how to create and deploy scriptable virtual channels, see this Microsoft Web site.

For more information about how to create a virtual channel application for a Windows Embedded CE powered device, see Virtual Channels Implementation.

For more information about Windows Embedded CE powered thin clients and Terminal Services, see Thin Client and Terminal Services.

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