Announcing: Universal Desktop Client - FREE
Organise and streamline stored RDP, ICA and VNC connections
A systems administrator will spend a good proportion of the day
connected to servers or remote computers, often many at a time. It can
be difficult keeping track of different connection definitions, using
different protocols, with different credentials. And with multiple
connections open, it's difficult enough just keeping track of which
window is which.
That's
where Universal Desktop Client can help.
Universal Desktop Client provides a convenient interface for
managing connections to remote computers. With support for the Microsoft
RDP, Citrix ICA and VNC protocols, Universal Desktop Client allows for
the creation of multiple connection definitions that can be operated
within a simple tabbed interface.
The connection definitions can
be organised into categories or folders. Each connection can have its
own stored credentials, or can simply inherit credentials set at the
folder level. So when your administrative account password expires, you
don't need to change the saved password for every connection, just
change it once on the folder containing them.
The features
available for each connection type reflect the features that exist in
the native clients.
RDP connections support local device mapping,
clipboard sharing, connection profile options (such as the ability to
disable themes and wallpapers) and direct connections to the remote
machine's console. RDP connections take advantage of the SmartScaling
function built into the native RDP client. Active connections can be
'detached' from the main application window and reduced in size. The
remote screen will simply zoom to fit - great if you are just watching a
progress bar slowly moving across the screen on a remote computer. When
complete, just click the 'dock' button to restore the session back into
a tab and carry on as normal.
ICA connections not only support direct
connections to servers but also to published resources. Universal
Desktop Client can even query the Citrix environment over TCP or HTTP to
enumerate applications available in the environment. Local drive
mapping is subject to the same permissions checks as the native client.
If the Citrix farm allows it, local printers will be mapped through,
using the Universal Print Driver if so configured. Universal Desktop
Client even allows for multiple concurrent connections to the same
published resource, each with different credentials; something that's
impossible using the the native Citrix client.
All stored credentials can be protected by a master password, entered
when the applications starts. All stored passwords are encrypted using
the master password, so if your workstation is stolen or compromised,
Universal Desktop Client cannot be used to connect to remote computers
using your credentials.
Originally developed as an internal tool
for our consultants to use, Universal Desktop Client has proven to be an
invaluable tool for clients and fellow IT professionals alike. Clients have even asked us to include Universal Desktop Client in Citrix XenApp deployments!
Therefore, Idea 11 has decided to make Universal Desktop Client
available, for free, to the wider IT community. Enjoy!
Download now
Requirements:
- Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (Client Profile)
- Microsoft RDP Client version 6.0 or later
- For ICA functionality, Citrix Online Plug-in version 10.0 or later
must already be installed
This entry was posted by DAN HALFORD on Wednesday, 9 June 2010 at 6:03 PM and is filed under
universal desktop client,
rdp,
ica and
vnc.