Add a New Connection

Before you can connect remotely to a computer in the Remote Desktops snap-in, you must add a connection to the computer.

Any user account can be used to complete this procedure.

To add a new connection

1. Start the Remote Desktops snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click Remote Desktops.

2. In the console tree, right-click Remote Desktops, and then click Add new connection.

3. Under Connection, do the following:

   1. In the Computer name or IP address box, type the name or IP address of the computer to which you want to connect. If you want to search for the computer, click Browse, click the computer name, and then click OK.
      
      
   2. In the Connection name box, type a friendly name for the connection. By default, the connection name is the same as what you typed in the Computer name or IP address box.
      
      
   3. By default, the Connect with /admin option check box is selected. If you connect to a session by using the /admin option, membership in the local Administrators group on the remote computer is required.
      
      

      Important

      If you configure a program to start on connection on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP on the host computer, you must clear the Connect with /admin option check box on the General tab. If the host computer is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, you are not required to clear the /admin option to start a program on connection. If the host computer is running Windows Vista or Windows 7, you cannot configure a program to start on connection.

      If you do not want to connect to a session by using the /admin option, clear the Connect with /admin option check box.
      
      

      Important

      In Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP, connecting to a session by using the /admin option always provides a full desktop session, as you would see if you were logged on to the computer locally. If you want to start a specific program upon connection, you must clear the Connect with /admin option check box and specify a program path and file name on the Other tab, which is available when you right-click the connection, and then click Properties.

4. Under Logon information, do the following:

   1. In the User name box, type the user name of the account that you want to log on as. If you leave the User name box empty, you can enter your user name when you connect.
      
      
   2. If you want to save your credentials so that you can automatically log on to the remote computer, select the Allow me to save credentials check box. If you select this check box, your credentials will be saved the next time that you connect to the remote computer by using the Remote Desktops snap-in.
      
      

5. When you are finished, click OK.