# Connecting to Remote Desktop

Endpoint Central MSP's Remote Control feature enables administrators to access any computer in a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network.

Ensure that you have completed these [prerequisites](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/remote_desktop_sharing/remote_desktop_pre-requisites.html) and made the required [settings](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/remote_desktop_sharing/remote_desktop_sharing_configuring_settings.html) before you connect remotely to a computer.

Using this feature you can do the following:

1. Connect remotely to computers
2. Transfer files between computers
3. Switch between multiple monitors during a remote session

## Connecting Remotely to Computers

To connect remotely to computers, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the **Tools** tab
2. Click **Remote Control**
3. Click ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/connect_remote_desktop_sharing.jpg) to establish connection with a remote computer

You have connected remotely to a computer. You can use the **View Desktop** link to control the user's computer. When you establish a remote session with a Mac computer, and no user has logged on or no user is active then you will have no control over the remote computer's mouse or keyboard. It is recommended to use "Fast User Switch" option in such cases.

| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/note.jpg) | When you are connecting to a remote desktop for the first time from a specific system, you must log in to the system with local administrative privileges. Subsequent connections from the same machine do not require this, as the necessary ActiveX controls and plug-ins would have got downloaded. |
|---|---|

## Transferring Files Between Computers

To transfer files to remote computers, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the **Tools** tab
2. In the **Windows Tools** section, click **Remote Control**
3. Click **Connect** against the name of a computer to connect remotely to it
4. On the top of the remote-connection screen, click **File Transfer**
5. Select the required file from a folder from your computer
6. Click ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/file-transfer-remotecomputers.jpg) to transfer it to a folder in the remote computer

You have transferred files to a remote computer.

## Switching Between Multiple Monitors

When you establish a remote connection, Endpoint Central MSP automatically detects the monitors available and displays this information on the ActiveX tool bar. You can choose the monitor that you want to view and can switch between the available monitors whenever you want, during the session.

To switch between multiple monitors during a remote session, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the **Tools** tab
2. Click **Remote Control**
3. On the **Computers** tab, in the **Viewer** section, select Active X.

| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/note.jpg) | Only the Active X viewer supports viewing multiple monitors during a remote session. |
|---|---|

4. In the **Action** column, against the computer that you want to connect to, click **Connect**
5. Click **View Desktop**

| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/note.jpg) | When Endpoint Central detects multiple monitors, it automatically adds an icon on the toolbar, which enables you to switch between multiple monitors. It is known as the Multi Monitor icon. The primary monitor gets displayed by default. |
|---|---|

6. Click the Multi Monitor icon to switch between monitors

You can now switch between multiple monitors during a remote session.

## Controlling a Remote Computer

After establishing connection with a remote desktop, you can complete the same tasks that you do from any computer. For example, you can create and deploy a configuration. You can use the toolbar to complete the following tasks:

| Toolbar Icon | Action |
|---|---|
| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/ctrl-alt-del.png) | Send a Ctrl+Alt+Delete message to a remote computer |
| ![Refresh](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/refresh_c.jpg) | Refresh the current view. If the computer is locked or no user has logged on, you are required to login |
| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/alt-tab.png) | Switch between different applications in the remote computer |
| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/blank-screen.png) | Black out a user's monitor so that the user cannot view the tasks that you are completing on the remote computer |
| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/lock-keyboard.png) | Lock a user's keyboard and mouse |
| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/unlock-keyboard.png) | Unlock a user's keyboard and mouse |
| ![Request for Controlling Remote Desktop](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/control_c.jpg) | Gain control to access a user's computer |
| ![Stop Controlling Remote Desktop](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/stop_control.jpg) | Give the control back to the user |
| ![Zoom In](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/zoom_in.jpg) | Zoom in |
| ![Zoom Out](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/zoom_out_c.jpg) | Zoom out |
| ![Actual Size](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/actual_c.jpg) | Reset a view to its original size |
| ![Fit to Screen](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/fit_c.jpg) | Reset the size of the view so that it fits onto the screen |
| ![Full Screen View](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/max_c.jpg) | View a remote desktop in full screen mode |

Read about known issues and limitations related to sharing desktops remotely, [here](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/misc/known_issues.html#Known-Issues-in-Desktop-Sharing).

## Auditing Remote Access Details

Whenever a user establishes a remote connection using Endpoint Central, all the events performed on the remote computer are logged. Clicking the ![User Access Log](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/user_access.gif) icon available beside the computer name will list all the remote access made to that computer with the details of the user and the start/end time.

You can also view the history of all the remote connections that have been established, using Endpoint Central, in the History tab. The details that you can view are as follows:

1. Date on which the connection was made
2. User name of the user who made the connection
3. Name of the computer which was accessed
4. Time at which the connection was made
5. Duration for which the connection lasted
6. IP address of the viewer
7. Name of the domain from which the viewer logged on

## Recording the Remote Session

Endpoint Central MSP has a unique facility to record the remote sessions. Administrators can configure the remote control settings like quality of the video, file format type, etc. During the video recording the files are stored in the client's computer and at the end of the session, it will be uploaded to the Endpoint Central server.

To record the remote sessions follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Click the **Tools** tab
2. In the **Windows Tools** section, click **Remote Control**
3. Click on **Screen Recording** to configure the settings
4. To enable secure recording click on the check box
5. Select the compressor code to specify the format of the video
6. Specify the frames to be captured every second; this helps determine the quality and the size of the video
7. Specify the colour quality and also the default storage capacity
8. Choose the option to discontinue the recording or disconnect the remote session when the client computer runs out of space
9. Specify whether the user needs to be notified about the recording process
10. Click on the check box to always show a notification while recording or specify the time for notification
11. Enter the notification message in the box displayed
12. Click on **Save** to store settings