Remote Access (Windows)

The remote desktop (RDP) access feature allows you to remotely log in to the Plesk server and interact with it using standard Microsoft Windows desktop interface.

To access the server via Remote Desktop interface:

1. Go to Tools & Settings > Remote Desktop.
2. Set up screen resolution for the session in the Screen resolution for terminal session menu.

   Note: Higher resolutions are more taxing for your connection, decreasing the interaction speed and spending more bandwidth.

3. Select the connection method according to your browser:
   • Microsoft RDP ActiveX - recommended to use with Internet Explorer browser, since it may not work with other browsers. When you use this method for the first time, your browser will automatically install the required ActiveX component, if Internet Explorer security settings permit this. If your browser shows security alerts, try to temporarily lower security measures in the browser options.
   • properoJavaRDP - recommended to use with Netscape, Mozilla, or Firefox browsers, since it may not work with Internet Explorer. Only 8.0 and higher versions of Opera are supported. This component requires Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to be installed on your system. If you do not have JRE, you can download it from http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp (version 1.4 and higher) and install it before using the remote desktop feature.

     Note: You don't need to install JDK (Java Development Kit) in order for the RDP feature to work.

     If you use Internet Explorer or Mozilla, you should open the Terminal Services Configuration console in Microsoft Windows (Start > Administrative Tasks), and set the Licensing option to Per user on the Server Settings screen.

4. Click OK. A new window will open with an area where your interaction with the server's desktop will take place.
5. Log in to the system. By default, Plesk uses the subscription's FTP username. You can supply any valid username and password.
6. After logging in to the system you can start working with it as with a regular Windows desktop.

To finish your Remote Desktop session:

• Close the browser window with the remote desktop session. This way, the session you had will be detached from your desktop, but it will keep running on the server, so when you log in there next time, you will see the remote desktop in the state you left it,

  or

• Select Start > Log off if you want to quit the session permanently (all running sessions consume the server's resources).