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Iszi
Asked: 2011-01-26 09:47:34 +0800 CST

Is there a way to Remote Desktop to a local session in Server 2008, without being restricted to a single session?

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The usability of the /console and /admin switches for Remote Desktop sessions has been removed after Windows XP/2003. Microsoft claims that the functionality of connecting to a local session in newer versions of Windows should be enabled by restricting users to a single session.

Because the physical console session is never session 0, you can always reconnect to your existing session on the physical console. The Restrict Terminal Services users to a single remote session Group Policy setting determines whether you can connect to your existing physical console session. This setting is available in the Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services\Terminal Server\Connections node of the Local Group Policy Editor. You can also configure this setting in Terminal Services Configuration. The Restrict each user to a single session setting appears in Edit settings in the General section. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947723

Is there any way - for those who don't want to generally impose this restriction, or in organizations with existing GPOs that just don't - to work around this?

I'd like to be able to connect to a specific session that is already open (i.e.: a local session left open at the physical console) on a system that does not restrict users to single sessions.

windows-server-2008 remote-desktop

5 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    RDP in, open Task Manager, find the session you want and connect to it.

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  2. This can be automated. Try the following script:

    SETLOCAL
SET SESSIONNUMBER=-1
FOR /F "skip=1 tokens=3" %%i in ('query session %username% ^| find /v ">"') DO SET SESSIONNUMBER=%%i
IF {%SESSIONNUMBER%}=={-1} GOTO :EOF
tscon.exe %SESSIONNUMBER%
ENDLOCAL
logoff.exe
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  3. I also don't understand the entire question, but according to Microsoft, you can no longer RDP into the "console" in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, because the "console" is no longer session 0, as session 0 is a noninteractive session that is reserved for services.

    Also, even if you were to log into the console, there is only one console, so you can't have multiple connections to it. Perhaps you are looking at something like VNC instead to control the server's console?

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  4. I'm confused here. Sounds like you wanted the functionality of the deprecated functionality of the /console switch in RDP 5.x. You can try /admin, but I am not sure of the result when done locally. You seem to be under the impression both are deprecated. I think only one, the /console switch, was put to rest. See below, ripped from here:

    Changes to remote administration in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 In Windows Server 2003, you can start the RDC client (Mstsc.exe) by using the /console switch to remotely connect to the physical console session on the server (also known as session 0). In Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, the /console switch has been deprecated. For more information, see the “Why the /console switch is no longer needed” section. In Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, session 0 is a noninteractive session that is reserved for services.

    You can use the new /admin switch to remotely connect to a Windows Server 2008-based server for administrative purposes. The /admin switch is introduced in RDC 6.1. RDC 6.1 is included in the following operating systems:

    * Windows Server 2008
* Windows Server 2008 R2
* Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
* Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
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  5. source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278845

    How to Connect to the Console Session When you connect to the console session of a Windows Server 2003-based server, no other user has to be already logged on to the console session. Even if no one is logged on to the console, you are logged on just as if you were sitting at the physical console.

    To connect from the remote Windows Server 2003-based computer, open a command prompt, and then type the following command: mstsc -v:servername /F -console where mstsc is the Remote Desktop connection executable file, -v indicates a server to connect to, /F indicates full screen mode, and -console is the instruction to connect to the console session.

    When you use this command, you open the Remote Desktop session, and when the logon is authenticated, you are connected to the console session that is running on the Windows Server 2003-based server. If a user is currently working on the console session at the computer, you receive the following error message: The user domain\username is logged locally on to this computer. The user has been idled for number minutes. The desktop is unlocked. If you continue, this user's session will end and any unsaved data will be lost. Do you want to continue? The user of the current console session is then logged off, and you receive a message that states that the computer is currently locked and only an administrator can unlock it.

    Note: If the console session user and the Terminal Services session user are the same, you can connect without any problems.

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