Active Directory Remote Control

Post by **Foo** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:15 pm

Anyone using the Active Directory remote control feature within a corporate environment as their primary means of shadowing user sessions?

I've previously used Funk's Proxy and Dameware, as well as Citrix Shadow in the few situations where it's appropriate, and I've got good experience with Terminal Service/RDP, but the 'Remote Control' tab in active directory seems to have barely any documentation for it, anywhere, so I don't know the specifics.

Will it let you connect to a PC pre-logon or only once a user is logged in? Can it connect without solicitation (i.e. a request-accept to the user) and does it display any notification to the user if not? Is it a viable and free alternative to buying licenses for Proxy/Dameware/VNC type applications?

TIA

Post by **Tormentius** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:53 am

This utility isn't designed to shadow user's sessions iirc. Its for establishing a TS session with a remote station without having to bring up the RDP client and type in the workstation name or IP.

Post by **Foo** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:51 pm

On the tab it says 'Require Users Permission' with Yes/No checkboxes. And it appears on the users properties in AD.

Post by **Tormentius** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:04 pm

Those boxes are for shadowing a user's TS session, not remotely shadowing a user who is logged on locally.

Post by **Foo** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:17 pm

So you can't use it to shadow a user logged in
on an XP Pro machine?

Post by **Tormentius** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:14 pm

AFAIK, no. It was designed around remotely connecting to a station to administer it and the shadowing options are limited to terminal server users.

Post by **Foo** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:34 pm

Thanks Torm

Post by **Tormentius** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:53 am

You're welcome. I just have a couple minutes so I'll answer your other thread on IT when there's more time.

Post by **GODLIKE** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:11 pm

It's not really much of a "shadowing" tool, per se.. more like a simpler precursor to remote assistance. Works great in a helpdesk scenario where many users connect to a TS server to run an application..