The Microsoft RDP Protocol is a built-in remote access protocol in modern Windows operating systems.It allows a remote user to remotely connect to a host PC and use the system as if they were sitting in front of it. RDP is one such remote access solution approved and supported by Accuray Precision for remote planning.
Microsoft RDP has two methods of connecting to a remote host PC: Connect and Shadow. In Connect mode, a remote user connects to a host and a new session is created for the remote user. If a different user is currently logged on, that user gets a prompt to either accept or reject the incoming connect request (as long as the remote user is logging in with different credentials). If no answer is received (i.e. user is away), the system automatically logs the remote user in and starts a new session. The current user's screen is then locked out. The Desktop and applications that was running in the locked out session is not visible to the remote user.
In Shadow mode, a remote user connects to a host and is attached to an existing session whereby the current user or local user and the remote user can both see the same screen or desktop and control the keyboard and mouse.
Can more than one person shadow connect to the same machine and session? No -- shadow connect is available for only one remote user. If someone is already shadowing a session and you attempt to shadow connect to the same PC, you will get a notice and not be able to connect.
Think of Shadow connect mode as screen sharing mode and Connect mode as take-over mode.
Use Shadow connect mode when you want to:
a) Collaborate on a treatment plan
b) Do over-the-shoulder training with someone
c) Troubleshoot a problem and see exactly what the user is currently seeing
Note: In order to use Shadow mode, the host PC must have the proper remote access policies enabled. This can be achived by running the command below from an administrative prompt on the remote host before attempting to shadow connect:
To shadow connect with user's approval:
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services" /v Shadow /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
To shadow connect without user's approval:
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services" /v Shadow /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
You only need to run one of the two commands above once.
The RDP Session Scanner application, available on this site allows a remote user to see which PC (RDP host) is currently being used or not used, and allows easy connecting to the PC via Connect or Shadow mode.
•reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Po•reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services" /v Shadow /t REdG_DWORD /d 2 /flicies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services" /v Shadow /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f