Since I have Debain Linux at home, I needed a way to login into Microsoft windows desktop from Linux OS. Many of us working at tech support use rdesktop to connect to customers’ windows XP box.

Especially it is very useful to configure Outlook or something else when customers do not understand how to configure or troubleshoot problem. This is the best way to fix a problem.

Fortunately, Linux has rdesktop utility. It is a client for remote desktop protocol (RDP), used in a number of Microsoft products including Windows NT Terminal Server, Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. You do not need to install VNC server. All you need is rdesktop client on Linux or BSD workstation.

Install rdesktop

$ sudo apt-get install rdesktop

Connect to MS Windows 2000/2003 server from Linux, type the following command at a shell prompt (connect to Windows server called mw2sn100.mycorp.com)

$ rdesktop mw2sn100.mycorp.com

Or connect to windows XP/Vista workstation having IP 192.168.1.17:

$ rdesktop 192.168.1.17

Please note that you must first enable remote desktop connection under Windows Server/XP.

* Go to Windows XP Desktop
* Right Click on My Computer
* Select properties
* Select Remote tab
* Enable Remote desktop.
* Save the changes.

Make sure enterprise firewall allows incoming connection on TCP port 3389. rdesktop supports many other options, see man page of rdesktop or visit main website of rdesktop for more information.

Original Post from: cyberciti.biz