Remote Desktop Connection Manager v2.93
By Julian Burger
Published: July 26, 2023
Download Remote Desktop Connection Manager (530 KB)
Run now from Sysinternals Live.
Introduction
RDCMan manages multiple remote desktop connections. It is useful for managing server labs where you need regular access to each machine such as automated checkin systems and data centers.
Servers are organized into named groups. You can connect or disconnect to all servers in a group with a single command. You can view all the servers in a group as a set of thumbnails, showing live action in each session. Servers can inherit their logon settings from a parent group or a credential store. Thus when you change your lab account password, you only need to change the password stored by RDCMan in one place. Passwords are stored securely by encrypting with either CryptProtectData using the (locally) logged on user’s authority or an X509 certificate.
User with OS versions prior to Win7/Vista will need to get version 6 of the Terminal Services Client. You can obtain this from the Microsoft Download Center: XP; Win2003
Upgrade note: RDG files with this version of RDCMan are not compatible with older program versions. Any legacy RDG file opened and saved with this version will be backed up as filename.old
The Display
The Remote Desktop Connection Manager display consists of the menu, a tree with groups of servers, a splitter bar, and a client area.
The Menu
There are several top-level menus in RDCMan:
- File – load, save, and close RDCMan file groups
- Edit – add, remove, and edit the properties of servers and groups.
- Session – connect, disconnect and log off sessions
- View – options to control the visibility of the server tree, virtual groups and size of the client area
- Remote Desktops – allows access to the groups and servers in a hierarchical fashion, similar to the server tree; primarily useful when the Server Tree is hidden
- Tools – change application properties
- Help – learn about RDCMan (you probably already found this)
The Tree
Most work, such as adding, removing, and editing servers and groups, can be accomplished via right-clicking on a tree node. Servers and groups can be moved using drag-and-drop.
Keyboard shortcuts:
- Enter: Connect to selected server.
- Shift+Enter: Connect to the selected server using the Connect As feature.
- Delete: Remove selected server or group.
- Shift+Delete: Remove selected server or group without question.
- Alt+Enter: Open properties dialog for selected server or group.
- Tab: If a connected server is selected, give it focus.
Use the [View.Server tree location] menu option to locate the tree at the left or right edge of the window.
The server tree can be docked, auto-hidden, or always hidden via the [View.Server tree visibility] menu option. When the server tree is not displayed, servers can still be accessed through the Remote Desktops menu. When the tree is auto-hidden, the splitter bar remains visible at the left side of the window. Hovering over it will bring the server tree back into view.