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windows-server-2008vpsrdp

Can the GUI of an RDP session remain active after disconnect


I'm running automated testing procedures that emulates keystrokes and mouseclicks 24/7.

Although it runs fine locally, on an RDP session it stops running once minimized or disconnected. Apparently, the GUI doesn't exist if you can't physically see it on the screen.

There is a registry work-around for keeping the GUI active for minimizing the window, but I know of no way to keep it alive after disconnect.

Ideally, I would have this run on the server Windows console session which would not care about being disconnected but in a hosted environment (I tried Amazon and Go Daddy) there is no way to access the console session.

Does anyone know how I can get around this? Basically any solution that allows me to run my application on a VPS. I need the reliability of a host but the flexibility to run it as if I was sitting right in front.


Solution

  • This could be a workaround, altough I have not tried it myself and it involves having another machine

    Let's assume that at the moment you are creating a session to myserver.com

    Local Client ----> myserver.com

    Instead of doing that, you could try having a separate server (let's call it myslave.com) and use that to establish a session

    Local Client ----> myslave.com ----> myserver.com

    Then if you disconnect the Local Client ---> myslave.com session the GUI of the session between myslave.com ----> myserver.com should remain active.

    It will work only if you are connected to the console session of myslave.com.