visionapp Remote Desktop 2011

Benefits

With visionapp Remote Desktop, you can configure connections individually and organize them for quick access. With the integration of external applications in the Universal Admin Cockpit, visionapp Remote Desktop caters to every administrator's need.

Ease of use

Administrators perform many recurring tasks on remote servers and workstations, such as renaming objects or enabling connections. With visionapp Remote Desktop, administrators can perform these tasks very quickly and efficiently by using shortcut keys for various functions. When working in database mode, administrators can easily resume work where they stopped the previous day, because all the connection settings are saved. When running visionapp Remote Desktop on a USB stick it may be used on any computers without install or footprint.

simultaneous and secure access: the database mode

In large IT infrastructures, several administrators often have to access the same connections at the same time. visionapp Remote Desktop provides all login credentials and connection objects in a central database with secure access. With visionapp Remote Desktop and its integrated rights management, multiple administrators can create, change, view, and modify connections and settings.

Connection settings

Many administrators have to perform the same task on multiple connections. visionapp Remote Desktop allows administrators to apply many tasks across multiple connections in one move! For instance, you can simultaneously connect or disconnect all servers within a folder with a simple double-click. The Quick Connect feature allows you to start individual connections without previously creating a connection object. External applications can be combined with connection objects and started by launching a connection.

Display

visionapp Remote Desktop provides many display options, such as a global view of all connected servers--also automatically on multiple screens. The Smart Sizing feature displays remote desktops without scrollbars — even when the window is resized.

Reporting

The Connection History holds a list of the most recently used connections and allows you to reopen them. Also, the software logs which login credentials were used to access the remote system. In database mode, visionapp Remote Desktop provides various logs (errors, changes, security) that make it easier for you to trace events and activities. You can also view who is working with the same database objects in real time.

Backup and Restore

All settings can be backed up in a password-protected file and restored. Connection objects or external applications can optionally be exported and also be re imported. And migrating or updating to visionapp Remote Desktop 2010 is a snap: you can even restore data from previous vRD versions or from other tools such as mRemote.

Configuration settings

visionapp Remote Desktop provides a wide range of configuration options. For instance, visionapp Remote Desktop allows you to automatically start a remote computer through ?Wake on LAN? using the MAC address. Browser based end devices such as Server-Management boards can be accessed comfortable. Also, when using SSH or Telnet, a modified PuTTY integrated into visionapp Remote Desktop allows you to separately configure and directly use individual sessions.

What does named Admin mean:

• Every administrator using vRD needs a license (e.g.: If three administrators will be using vRD in a company, this company needs to purchase three vRD licenses). Unlike the workstation licenses the country and global license has no limitation regarding the number of administrators.
• An existing vRD license can be transferred to another administrator if the company ensures that only the newly appointed person will use the license.
• The licensing does not follow a concurrent user model (A concurrent user model allows a fixed number of users access to the product at a given time).
• The licensing does not follow a per device mode (A per device mode allows the use of only one license for several administrators on one terminal or in one terminal server session).
• An administrator may use his vRD license on different terminals and in different environments.
• There is no limitation on managed connection nodes (server or clients).
• There is no limitation on credential files.

Migration vRD 2010 / vRD 2010 R2 to vRD 2011

Updating an older version of visionapp Remote Desktop to vRD 2011

• Technical information how to update an older version of visionapp Remote Desktop to vRD 2011 may be found in the Release Notes (vRD2011_Release_notes_EN.pdf, chapter 2.3.: Updating of Earlier Versions), available with the download.

If you purchased visionapp Remote Desktop directly from the visionapp online shop AND:

• You currently use vRD 2009 / 2010 with a valid Subscription: If you have a valid license from vRD 2009 / 2010 in use, you can directly import this license to use vRD 2011. You will find your vRD 2009 / 2010 license in your online shop account. Information about the subscription expiration can be found in the Information box of vRD (?|Info ...).

If you purchased visionapp Remote Desktop directly from visionapp AND:

• You currently use vRD 2009 / 2010 with a valid Subscription:
  If you have a valid license for vRD 2009 in use, you can directly import the license in vRD 2010 R2. Information about the validity / expiry date can be found in the Infoormation box of vRD (?|Info ...).
• You relocated your vRD 2009 / 2010 license file:
  If you moved your license file for vRD 2009 / 2010 from the default location, we will be happy to send you another license file. Send an e-mail with your name, order number, type of license (single user license, Country or Global license), number of users and the subject "New vRD 2009 / 2010 -license" to info(at)visionapp.com. Please allow up to 10 business days for processing time. 

If you bought vRD from a visionapp partner AND:

• You currently use vRD 2009 / 2010 with a valid Subscription:
  If you have a valid license for vRD 2009 / 2010 in use, you can directly import the license in vRD 2011. Information about the validity / expiry date can be found in the Information box of vRD (?|Info ...).
• You relocated your vRD 2009 / 2010 license file:
  If you moved your license file for vRD 2009 / 2010 from the default location, please contact the visionapp partner directly.

If you have vRD without Subscription (or an expired Subscription):

• If you have an older visionapp Remote Desktop version without a valid Subscription, you will have to purchase a new Subscription. Online Shop customers can buy a newSubscription in the online shop; direct customers directly from visionapp; and customers from partners by the respective partner. Please note that the Subscription will retroactively start on the date of purchase of your original software license (or on the date of expiration of your original Subscription).

If you use a NFR (Not for Resale) license:

• If you have a NFR license for visionapp Remote Desktop and want to update to vRD 2011, please contact your visionapp representative to purchase a Subscription.

Compatibility

Will vRD 2011 run on Windows 7?

• Yes, for (more) details please refer to the Online Help, directly available in vRD by pressing F1

Is vRD 201 supported in Windows Vista SP1?

• Yes, for (more) details please refer to the Online Help, directly available in vRD by pressing F1.

Does vRD 2011 support Remote Desktop Protocol 6.1 and the switch "admin" to connect to a console session of a remote computer?

• Yes, you can connect to the console of a server with RDP 6.1. vRD 2011 works with RDP versions 6.X.

Is it possible to use RDP 7 features with vRD 2011?

• Yes, with vRD 2010 R2 you also can use the new RDP 7 features.

When I try to integrate an external application in vRD running on a 64bit operating system I always get the error “Application has exited or has no main window”.

• In the properties of the external application use /32 in the field Arguments as first value.

When installing vRD on Windows Vista I always get an error "Internal Error 2738". What can I do?

• This error is caused by an incorrect registration of the file VBScript.dll in Vista itself. Please register the file manually at the command line:
• Procedure on a 32 Bit (x86) system: C:\Windows\System32\Regsvr32.exe C:\Windows\system32\VBScript.dll
• Procedure on a 64 Bit (x64) System: C:\Windows\SYSWOW64\Regsvr32.exe C:\Windows\SYSWOW64\VBScript.dll

Upgrade

Can I use my vRD 1.5 objects in vRD 2011?

• Yes, settings from vRD 1.5 can be transferred to vRD 2011 if you backup your settings in vRD 1.5 and restore them in vRD 2011.

Is it possible to update from vRD 2010 or vRD 2010 R2 to vRD 2011?

• Yes, you can update to the new version. For more details please refer to the Online Help (Reuse Data from Other Program Versions).

Installation

Can we use vRD 2011 on Terminal Server?

• Yes, you can install vRD 2011 on a Terminal Server or connect to it remotely. Please pay also attention to the chapter “Licensing” below.

How do I deploy vRD automatically as a silent/unattended package?

• In order to run the installation of vRD unattendly launch it with the switch /S: vRD2011.exe /S (upper case)

Configuration

Can I configure the port, when connecting vRD 2011 to a database server?

• Yes, the Environment Wizard allows you to fill in the name for the database server followed by the port number, e.g. "databaseserver,1234".

Is it possible to connect to a remote computer via VPN with vRD 2011?

• No, if you would like to access a remote server via VPN, you must use specific VPN software.
• This application may be integrated as external application directly in vRD 2011, in order to establish automatically a VPN tunnel, when activating a connection. When disconnecting the tunnel will also be closed automatically (for further information refer to the online help, available by pressing F1).

Is it possible to connect to a computer on which Network Level Authentication (NLA) is active using vRD 2011?

• Yes, if the underlying RDP client supports NLA, you can use this feature also with vRD 2011 without having anything separately activated.

Is it possible to use another credential than assigned to a RDP connection, when connecting via Microsoft Remote Desktop Gateway?

• Yes, this is possible. There is an option under the advanced RDP settings (for details refer to the online help, available by pressing F1).

When trying to connect to a remote computer via vRD 2011 an error appears. What might be causing this?

• The reason might be an incorrect registration of the file mstscax.dll by the operating system itself. Please register the file manually at the command line: "regsvr32 mstscax.dll".

Is it possible to log in to vRD 2011 using an active directory account (name, password, domain) in order to use the configured vRD-permissions, even when the PC is not part of the domain or of a trusted domain?

• No, this is not possible. The logon in vRD 2011 is the same like for Windows on the PC itself. This means, if it is not possible to log in to a domain on the PC, it will not possible in vRD. This is caused by Microsoft security settings.

When trying to import a CSV file following error appears: "Error has been found in the CSV file. Invalid protocol in the following line(s): 1, 2, 3, 4"

• Make sure that the delimiter used in the CSV file fits to the settings in vRD 2011 under Tools|Options|General|User specific|Application|Delimiter for import / export.

My domain username was changed and so my windows login. When I now launch vRD2011, the folder structure I had previously created under the old windows account is there, but my credentials and connections are gone.

• You have to manually adjust the settings.xml of vRD 2011 (%AppData%\visionapp\vRD 2011). Replace the old username with the new one: <OwnerName>old_username@domain</OwnerName> to <OwnerName>new_username@domain</OwnerName>

Is it possible to launch external applications in vRD under Windows Vista or 7 without any problem, even when the User Account Control has not been deactivated before?

• Yes, this is possible, when vRD has been started with the option “Run as -> Administrator”.

Display

What exactly is the Live Overview of active connections and how can I get to it?

• Live Overview means the view of all active connections in form of thumbnails on the Overview tab within vRD 2011. There you can see all active connections at a time and can follow recent activities on the remote computers. Relevant for the frequency of actualizing the thumbnail's view is the value configured in vRD 2011 under Tools|Options|User specific|Connections|Polling interval to refresh thumbnails. Note that the thumbnail will only be refreshed, if the focus of your work is in a remote session.

How do I turn on the feature that will automatically show other users' connected sessions?

• At first following requirements have to be met, in order to use this feature:
  • You have to assign credentials to the vRD connection (including password)
  • The local PC and the remote one have to be member of the same domain
  • You need the "Query Information" permission on the RDP protocol (see support.microsoft.com/kb/243554)
  • You need a network connection that allows RPC communication (check firewall settings, etc.)
  • Make sure the following registry key is set on the target computer and has the value 1: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server]  "AllowRemoteRPC"=dword:00000001
• With visionapp Remote Desktop 2011 this feature is deactivated by default. To have the logged in user displayed automatically underneath a connection object go to: Tools|Options|User specific|Connections|Polling Interval to discover the session information and change the value from Never to another. Administrators can still manually display the other sessions on a connection by right clicking it and selecting Refresh Session. These sessions will display provided that the assigned credentials have permission for this activity.
• This Refresh option may also be done at the folder level.

When trying to establish a connection using display settings of 1900 x 1200, the session always throws an error. What is causing this?

• This error is caused by an older version of the RDP Client that does not support these settings. Please update the RDP Client.

Even the polling interval to refresh the thumbnails has been set in vRD 2011, the thumbnails do not refresh.

• To have the thumbnails refreshed at a regular interval please undock the overview tab of vRD 2011 (double-click on tab) and place it somewhere on your screen (or even on another monitor), so that it is still visible. When you now work in an remote session, you will see, that the thumbnails on the overview tab are refreshed according the settings you selected in vRD 2011 (Tools|Options|User specific|Connections|Polling interval to refresh thumbnails)

I like to use vRD 2011 on multiple monitors with different display resolution. If now a connection is opened as full screen on the secondary monitor with a higher resolution, not the whole screen but a part is used.

• This feature only works properly if all monitors use the same display resolution and are placed side by side in line.

How can I manage to change the settings for Poderosa?

• In the configuration file of ponderosa (%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\poderosa\options.conf) following values might be configured:
  • Under “ponderosa terminal” both the background color and the text color might be configured. Therefore add the parameter bgColor (for the background color) and the parameter textColor (for the text color). (The value always has to start with ff. The value for the color, which follows can be selected depending to your needs. The sample shows white text on dark green back ground):
    bgColor=ff003A00
    textColor=ffffffff
  • In order to change the text size just add a parameter fontSize under “ponderosa-terminal” and add a numeric value, e.g.: fontSize=16

Reporting

Can administrative actions in vRD 2011 be tracked for auditing purposes?

• In vRD 2011, the recently established connections will be stored in (the) Connection History. Additionally, when using database mode, log files are available that show administrative activities and errors.
• Furthermore individual information for a computer may be stored in the logbook (also only available in database mode).

Database

When running vRD 2010 R2 in database mode, does each administrator see everything in the database?

• During the creation of credentials the access level also has to be set. Credentials with the access level Public can be seen and thus be used as well by other administrators working with the same database. A credential marked as Private can only be seen by the creator himself. For details please have a look at the online help of visionapp Remote Desktop 2010 R2.

I like to give users the possibility to connect visionapp Remote Desktop 2010R2 to a central database. Therefore they should not use credentials.

• With vRD 2010 R2 it is possible to generate an encrypted database connection string, which includes this information without having the user seeing it. When connecting to a database the connection string may then be easily inserted by just pasting it.

I have installed vRD 2010 R2 on Windows Vista and have problems using the database mode. How do I establish the database connection successfully?

• Administrative rights are mandatory to connect vRD 2010 R2 to a database. However, in Windows Vista, applications are started with non-administrative rights by default, even if you are logged in as an administrator. Please start vRD 2010 R2 with the option "Run as -> administrator" and try to connect to the database again.

Is it possible to use a backup created (*.vrsb) in vRD 2010 R2 running in database mode in a local instance?

• No, this is not possible. To use the data created in database mode in local mode you may export the connection objects (*.vre; credentials are not included) or external applications (*.vra) and import into the local instance. But despite that it is possible to have the local backup (*.vrb) restored in database mode. For further information please refer to the vRD 2010 R2 online help.

Licensing

How does licensing work with vRD 2011 on Terminal Server?

• vRD 2011 is licensed by named administrator. The licenses are enforced by name and not by concurrent connections. So, it doesn't matter how many administrators are using vRD on any given machine as long as they are named for their vRD product license.

Does the evaluation version offer the same functionality as the licensed product (except it only runs 30 days)?

• During the evaluation period, you can create databases, but that functionality will expire after 30 days. Furthermore only 15 connection objects and 15 external applications may be exported or backed up.

What are the restrictions of the freeware version vRD 2011 in comparison to the commercial full version?

• The database mode is not available in the freeware version of vRD 2011. Furthermore, the number of simultaneous connections is limited to 3 and only 15 connection-objects can be exported or backed up. Furthermore no external applications may be used. The freeware version can be updated to the full software version at any time through an according license

How can I automatically deploy the vRD 2011 license file to multiple users?

• Use your software deployment/packaging system or a login script or something similar to import the file profile.xml for each user. This file by default is located after the installation of vRD here: %AppData%\visionapp\vRD 2011
• Note: These steps are not necessary in the database mode because in this mode the license file is globally stored in the database for all users

Technical Support

Please use our visionapp Remote Desktop Support Forum to forward your request directly to us. Here you will get immediate and comprehensive response.

F.A.Q.

Answers to frequently asked questions have been put together in this category. Click here to see our FAQ now.

Knowledge Base

Detailed technical information concerning visionapp Remote Desktop you can find here

Subscription

visionapp Remote Desktop 2011 is only available with a subscription.

The duration of support is 1 year from the date of purchase and it will cover the following services:

• Delivery of minor and major releases of visionapp Remote Desktop 2011 and subsequent versions.
• Delivery of hotfixes and service packs for the current version.
• Support for Problems or questions over the visionapp Remote Desktop Support Forum

If your subscription has expired you can renew it at any time. The renewal date will start with the day after the expiration date.