Remote Desktop Protocol

The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP ) is a proprietary network protocol from Microsoft for displaying and controlling desktops on remote computers. It regulates how the Terminal Services (Remote Desktop Services, formerly Terminal Services ) on Microsoft Windows NT are addressed and used. The service is typically provided on port 3389.

History

Microsoft licensed the technology from Citrix multiWin to publish the product that builds Windows Terminal Server in 1998. MultiWin enabled the simultaneous execution of multiple user sessions.

The protocol ICA, the Citrix WinFrame was used in its own product, not part of the licensing agreement. Instead, Microsoft developed the protocol RDP as an extension of the Protocol T.Share ( T.Share was the name for the protocol T.128 in the design phase).

Operation

With RDP of the two systems acts as a terminal server. This produces screen output on the terminal client. In addition, mouse and keyboard input can be received from the terminal client. There are two options: The remote output on the terminal client may be the only issue that generates the terminal server for this session, or the actual screen output of the session is to a local screen of the terminal server and the terminal client only receives a copy of the issue either. Depending on the application, the user of terminal clients will then be in a position to work his terminal server to "watch" or even to control from a distance. RDP regulates the transfer of the screen content as well as keyboard and mouse input over the network.

In addition to screen output and keyboard and mouse input can be redirected to the terminal client with RDP also the sound of the session. In addition, the use of a printer and access to storage media of the terminal clients is possible.

RDP is based on the ITU T.128 Protocol and is a protocol of levels 4-7 of the OSI model. It is not dependent on the Transmission Control Protocol or another protocol of the lower levels.

Security

Each RDP version uses the RC4 encryption algorithm, which is designed for the encryption of data streams in networks. In Windows 2000, select an administrator from a key length of 56 or 128 bits. Encryption is usually bi-directional. If the encryption is set to the lowest security level, only the traffic from the client to the server is encrypted to protect at least sensitive data such as passwords. By default, both directions are encrypted with a key length of 56 bits. 128 -bit encryption can be set only after you install the Windows 2000 High Encryption Pack.

Of attack

Due to a design flaw of this Protocol in versions prior to 6.1, it is possible that employees get into a network via ARP spoofing to sensitive data. However, it is possible to RDP connections by Transport Layer Security (TLS) provide additional protection, which secure authentication is guaranteed.

RDP server

As for RDP Server 2003 and 2008, NetMeeting, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 are Windows NT 4.0, Windows Server 2000 is used. Terminal Server ( RDP) for Windows from third-party providers eg Thinstuff XP / VS Server, ThinSoft Winconnect AADS Server and Terminal Server. Clients, such as mstsc.exe exist for almost all operating systems. RDP is used by default for remote maintenance of Windows machines ("Remote Support" ) since Windows XP.

Versions

4.0-5.2

Since Windows XP Service Pack 1, the RDP version 5.1 is available. Remote Desktop Protocol 5.2 is a component of Windows XP Professional SP2. Since Windows Vista, the RDP version 6 is up to date.

6.0

With the introduction of RDP version 6.0, which is a part of Windows Vista, the functional part was heavily modified and revised the encryption. Among other things

Font smoothing
Support for multi -monitor systems, Aero ( Glass) and WPF features
And a new scripting system

Introduced.

7.0

Since October 2009, the RDP version 7.0 is available for Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, and Windows Vista SP2. This version adds more than 10 new features that 2008 R2 is available when connecting to Windows 7 or Windows Server. Of which there are 4 functions from Windows 7 on the client PC. Current client programs are available for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X.

8.0

This version was released with Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Late October 2012, Microsoft has the Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 Updates for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 released (also via Windows Update and MS Download center ( KB2592687 ) and ( KB2574819 ) ) there the use of the new features when accessing a Windows Server 2012 and on Windows 8 ( pro, enterprise) allowed. The Remote Desktop application ( mstsc.exe ) was updated to version 6.2.9200 and it thus supports the Remote Desktop version 8.0.

Support for other operating systems

For Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and AmigaOS and MorphOS each clients that allow access to Windows RDP server exist. Similarly, there are commercial Java clients that can be used on different operating systems.

At the trade fair CeBIT, the first commercial RDP server for Linux was presented ( Thinstuff LX Server) in March 2005. This software enables the use of RDP client to connect to X11 servers.

There is also a free RDP server named xrdp available.

The virtualization software VirtualBox Oracle has its own RDP server that is compatible with rdesktop and Microsoft Client.

Citrix Systems International Telecommunication Union T.120 ARP-Spoofing Remote administration Oracle Corporation RFB protocol NX technology Hyper-V Hypervisor

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