Remote connection to Server 2012 Essentials

I didn't succeed to connect to my Server 2012 Essentials through Remote Desktop until I remembered me that this one was set up by default as a domain controller, one of the major differences between this server and WHS 2011.

Click to Read More

First, check that Remote Desktop is enabled on the server, just to be sure:

  1. On the Start Screen, type SystemPropertiesRemote and run that tool
  2. Allow remote connection to this computer.

Next, I have disabled the Firewall, I don't need to allow Remote Desktop Connection as an exception in this firewall.

Finally, Windows Server 2012 Essentials being a domain controller, accounts created on that machine belongs to the domain defined at the end of the installation. So, the user name to be provided in Remote Desktop must be like <domain name>\<user name> instead of simply <user name> (equivalent to <remote machine name>\<account> as by default, Remote Desktop uses the target machine name as domain name).

This subtle difference between Server 2012 Essentials and WHS 2011 (which was not a domain controller) could be a source of confusions while trying to connect for "end-users" used to work with workgroups instead of domains.

2 thoughts on “Remote connection to Server 2012 Essentials

  1. Hi there, I cant figure out rdp in 2012 essentials. Not even for admin.
    In server Manager, in remote desktop services, I can see events in red
    "failed to register with the service connection point"
    does not have sufficient permissions to access ssl...

    Do I need to remove Active Directory?

    thanks

Leave a Reply

No Access

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *