When supporting my code in production, invariably I need to connect to a remote computer via RDP.
The built-in Windows Remote Desktop client has a few quirks:
- It’s not possible to zoom or scale to fit inside the client width
- It opens on random monitors, sometimes full screen and sometimes not
- It produces ugly scrollbars when moving from one screen to another, or when resizing
My needs are different:
- I want my RDP sessions to adapt to my screen size
- I want to manage 20 or more servers with minimal configuration
- I want to easily switch between RDP sessions
Then I found Remote Desktop Connection Manager
I can dedicate one of my screens for monitoring activity on my servers, because I can view logs, Task Manager, or any other screen activity in thumbnail format on a single screen.
I can set up a tree of pre-configured servers with login details. There’s a handy inheritance scheme in place. I can create a group where I can define common settings like login details, RDP gateway, etc.
Then any server in that group would inherit those settings.
I can even interact with any server in thumbnail mode. Sign out, sign out, sign out…
And the client area adapts to my screen size. Look! No scrollbars!
When I move the session to a different screen, it may need resizing. By reconnecting the server, the session adapts to the new screen size.
The thumbnail view can be configured in Tools -> Options -> Thumbnail Unit Size. I typically set it to 33 percent, so that I have 3 neat columns.
The server tree can auto hide, so that it’s not in the way. Hovering the mouse near the left side, will make it re-appear.
By configuring the properties on a parent node, all child nodes will accept the parent’s default settings. Useful when monthly password change policies are enforced on a domain.
If you have a dual screen setup, you can undock any session and move it to your secondary screen.
RDC manager totally rocks!
Morné, it sounds like a sales pitch.
It does! But thanks to Julian Burger and David Zazzo it’s completely free. Thanks guys!