You can specify your own port for RDP (Remote Desktop) if you wish to have multiple desktops accessible from the internet.
I had a client ask me about this the other day. It’s a little involved to setup initially, but well worth the hassle. I apologize if the checklist isn’t complete enough for your taste, it was quickly written and targeted to advanced users mostly…also, if i left anything out let me know.
- Set the desktop to use a static IP address
-In a corporate setting you would get the MAC address of the NIC in that computer and setup a Reservation on an IP address in DHCP for that MAC addy.
-At home you will have to edit the Network Connection properties to setup an IP address. But this only works if you’re connected to a Router. If you are directly connected to the modem then you have an IP address already from your Internet Provider. Goto Start–>RUN and type CMD and enter. type IPCONFIG into that window and enter. there’s your IP address. Only problem…it may not be static. There’s programs you can get which will monitor your network and email you your IP address when it changes, but you’re on your own with that. - Change the RDP port on the desktop
–http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306759 - Enable Remote Desktop service on the desktop
-Rt-Click MY COMPUTER–>Properties–>Remote: Check box for “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer” - Make sure you don’t have any Group Policies preventing RDP from working
-Varies depending on environment - Open the new RDP Port in the desktop Firewall
-Network Connections–>rt-click the NIC and goto Firewall. Under Exceptions, choose Add Port and enter the TCP port number you chose. - Map the new RDP Port in the corporate Firewall or Router to the IP address of the desktop
-Varies depending on connected hardware - Turn off hibernation, system standby, NIC auto-shutoff, etc
-Adjust Power Settings in Control Panel on the desktop. NIC adjustment will vary depending on vendor. - Set RDP Client program to use an alternate port
–http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304304/ - If the user isn’t an Administrator, you may have to add them to the “Remote Desktop Users” group in Active Directory
Excellent article I was trying to figure out how to do this as I have multiple computers on my network.
Thanks
I find it better to use a cable/dsl router that can forward external ports to different internal ports.
e.g. have a port forward rule to forward external port 55155 to internal 3389 (the standard RDP port) on address 192.168.10.105 (as an example).
Many inexpensive Linksys and D-link models can do this now.
This means you don’t have to edit the registry of the target PC and, more importantly, if you’re on the LAN, you don’t have to know what custom RDP port you’ve set it a target PC to be.
This guy makes a good point. If you don’t want to edit the registry then you can simply forward to 3389, just be aware that you are leaving the default RDP port open and others on your internal network can now connect to it all they want. Either method will work just fine.