Microsoft Virtual PC via Multiple Monitor RDP
I am a huge fan of using VM for development and isolated testing. Research by University of Utah, Gartner, and Microsoft among others demonstrates a 9 to 50% productivity increase via the use of multiple monitors.
Great, this should be easy then, use a free copy of Microsoft Virtual Machine and Use multiple monitors. Neither Microsoft VPC 2004 nor 2007 support multiple monitors. Wait… what!?!?! VW ware does?
There is a work around, this isn’t perfect but it works.
Pre- req
Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925876
Once you have MSTSC 6.0 installed run via the following command line switch
C:\mstsc /span This will launch the RDP client utilizing all the available screen real estate (up to 4096 x 2048). The remote system doesn't realize you have multiple monitors, but just sees the connecting PC has having one big-ass screen.
What about Virtual PC?
- Open Virtual PC
- Start a VM image (and make sure Remote Desktop is installed, enabled, and configured)
- Winkey + Pause/Break
- Remote Tab (assuming you have admin rights)
- Check – Allow users to connect remotely to this computer
- Select Remote Users
- Add credentials (administrators have native rights)
- Okay
- Open RDP client using the command line arguments
- mstsc /span
- Browse to (or enter the machine name for) your VM
- Connect...
Not the best, but better than reducing productivity because of a single monitor experience.
Background, why doesn’t MSTSC have native support? Looks like MSTSC is utilizing DirectX. Hopefully Microsoft will fix this glaring productivity hole in v.Next
Enjoy your increased productivity.