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DaveP
Commander
Commander

VMware Guests and RDP to host keyboard and mosue problem

I have an issue where I need to be able to use RDC to another machine running a guest and then interact with the guest over the RDC RDP connection. However the guest does not get any mouse or keyboard events and so cannot be used. Please note that much of the setup is not changeable due to company and VPN restrictions (and trying to work form home in a snow bound UK).

The details:

1. Host machine is Vista Enterprise Edition SP1 x32

2. Running VMware Workstation 7.0.0

3. Guest is MS Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition as x32 with all tools installed

4. Remote Desktop Connection in running on Mac OS X 10.6.2 using MS RDC 2.0.1

So the question is there anyway to pass through the mouse and keyboard in an RDP session?

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asatoran
Immortal
Immortal

To be clear, you're saying you're RDPing to the Window 2003 machine. And you establish a connection, but don't get any keyboard or mouse response in the session. If so, then does RDP work from another remote machine? (Windows or Mac. Or even Boot Camp Windows on your Mac.) Or do you not establish a RDP session at all? (e.g.: you don't get to the Windows logon prompt.)

BTW, I RDP from my Macbook Pro using the MS RDP client to several Windows 2003 virtual machines (not R2) running on the same physical host. Host is Windows 2003 x64 with VMWare Server 2. All virtual machines are bridged networking over a wired LAN.

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DaveP
Commander
Commander

No I RDP to the Workstation host machine not the guests (can't do that due to restrictions set by company they do not have IP addresses accessible via the VPN). Then when click inside the guest screen the cursor is grabbed but no movement or keystrokes are working.

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asatoran
Immortal
Immortal

Hmmm, any other VMs running on that host? I RDP from my Macbook to the Server2 host, then run & manage VMs inside there, so I don't think it's an issue with the Mac RDC client.

I also have a Win7Pro-32bit host that has Player3. It's not functional right now so I can't check, but I have RDP to that host and run VMs in the past. Could it be a slow connection? Last time I RDP to this Win7 host, my mouse "disappears" but I still have mouse and keyboard, but I have to guess the position a lot. In this case, I think it's the ISP or cable modem as the connection to that site in general got slower all of a sudden a few months ago.

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DaveP
Commander
Commander

I should have said the problem occurs with any guest. I suspect it is just a case of the RDP protocol not passing through to the MKS component of VMware. The connection via my ISP is fine and there is pretty much no lag to the host. In Workstation 3.2 days there were issues around this as well, but mainly due to mouse being offset within the guest.

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asatoran
Immortal
Immortal

Hmmm, and no way to RDP directly to the guest, eh? Like I said, I'm doing the same as you, just to a Windows 2003 host running Server2 rather than a Vista host with Workstation7.

Only troubleshooting I can think of at the moment is to see if you can RDP from a different remote machine or have someone at the office RDP within the LAN to that Vista host. This should indicate whether the issue is with the VPN client or something else on the Mac the issue, (i.e.: if RDP directly on the LAN is fine) or if it's in the Workstation or the Vista host. (i.e.: RDP directly on the LAN also has issues.) Assuming of course, that there actually is someone that got through the snow to get to the office. Smiley Happy

DaveP
Commander
Commander

Will try in the morning. One of the QA engineers is walkng to the office and will ask her to try it out. Thanks.

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