Virtual PC client

Dale · 7 Dec 2010 at 19:21

Hi, just wondering if anyone would be able to offer any advice on options available (both paid and free - if there is a free option?) for the following:

Install onto a Windows 2008 server a virtual desktop PC client that allows someone to logon remotely (from abroad) and do things such as browse internet, have an email client running and save and work on a few small office documents.

Ideally I'd like something to be free (who wouldn't) but would like to look at options available.

Thanks for any advice.

Burnsy2023 · 7 Dec 2010 at 19:25

I think you're talking about Terminal Services rather than virtualisation. VNC would probably be a good start.

Dale · 7 Dec 2010 at 19:44

Thanks Burnsy, however, I don't want them to connect directly to the server, I need an entirely new virtual environment to install onto the server (e.g. a windows XP or Windows 7 client running virtually on a Windows 2008 server platform).

Skeeter · 7 Dec 2010 at 20:13

Can you not create them a very limited account on the Server 2008 OS and have them just Remote Desktop into that? Would be much simpler than a virtual machine.

Any virtual access will require whatever PC they are using to have that client software on as well though, unless you use some web based client.

I use logmein.com to access lots of PCs remotely. doesnt need a client, but it would mean logging directly into the server. This is where the above mentioned limited account might come into play...

Dale · 7 Dec 2010 at 20:30

Thanks Skeeter, actually the idea of creating a user account with really tight permissions is quite appealing. I've used LogMeIn a lot, but would prefer RDP in this case.

SiriusB · 7 Dec 2010 at 21:32

I use LMI a lot and it is fast and secure. As long as the account you create for your friend has virtually no rights other than to use Office and open IE then there shouldn't be a problem.

Though I wonder if they have the ability to use LMI from abroad, surely they will have all they need to browse and use Office? If they need access to files - use something like Dropbox?

Dale · 7 Dec 2010 at 21:51

Yes, LMI works from anywhere I've tried it in the past (US, Egypt etc etc) so pretty confident that will work. I'm going to go down the user account with locked down permissions I think.

Cheers guys :-)

SiriusB · 7 Dec 2010 at 22:15

Is there any reason why they can't do office and browsing tasks on their own machine and use Dropbox for file access?