
Microsoft has released an update to its Remote Desktop software, a.k.a. Terminal Services Client. The new version 6.0 contains a number of interesting
new features:
- Network Level Authentication
- Server authentication
- Resource redirection
- Terminal Services Gateway (TS Gateway) servers
- TS Remote Programs
- Multiple monitor spanning
- 32-bit color
- Font smoothing
Network Level Authentication allows the user to be authenticated before the server starts up a full-blown Remote Desktop session, thereby saving resources, and "uses remote computer authentication that helps protect users from connecting to remote computers that are set up for malicious purposes," though I'm not entirely sure what that means. Server authentication "verifies that you are connecting to the correct remote computer or server. Resource redirection lets you use Plug and Play devices that support redirection over a Remote Desktop session. TS Gateway support "enables authorized users to connect to remote computers on a corporate network," which means that if you can connect to a remote PC from across the internet over port 443 (SSL), which isn't blocked by most firewalls. TS Remote Programs sounds pretty cool, essentially allowing you to run programs on your local machine that are installed on the remote machine. "The experience," says Microsoft, "is the same as running a program that is installed on the computer." The last three I think are pretty self-explanatory.
Remote Desktop Connection 6.0 is a
free download from Microsoft, and doesn't require a WGA check.