Remote Desktop traffic

pokeefe0001 · Sep 12, 2024

In a few days I am (probably) going to be using Remote Desktop across a very limited bandwidth connection. I assume (and hope!) RDP does not send much data for an unchanging desktop but I have no idea how it handles a constantly changing display. I will be running a process that displays a window with continuously scrolling data - similar to Robocopy copying hundreds of small files. I will usually have this window minimized or hidden but will occasionally need to watch it. What will RDP do when that window is visible?

Will it queue and (eventually) send all the data?
Will it take occasional snapshots based the connection speed?
Will it send scrambled garbage for that part of the desktop until the scrolling stops?
Will it crash trying to handle too much data?
Will it do something else I haven't thought of?

If it does #1 or #4 I probably need to change my plans. I don't need to see all the data but I do need to be able to stop the work in (nearly) real time if there is a problem.

Bree · Sep 12, 2024

RDP adjusts to the bandwidth available.

Microsoft said:
Remote Desktop Protocol is a modern protocol designed to adjust to the changing network conditions dynamically. Instead of using the hard limits on bandwidth utilization, RDP uses continuous network detection that actively monitors available network bandwidth and packet round-trip time. Based on the findings, RDP dynamically selects the graphic encoding options and allocates bandwidth for device redirection and other virtual channels.

Remote Desktop Protocol bandwidth requirements Azure Virtual Desktop - Azure

Understanding RDP bandwidth requirements for Azure Virtual Desktop.

learn.microsoft.com

OAT · Sep 12, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
~~Will it queue and (eventually) send all the data?~~

~~Will it take occasional snapshots based the connection speed?~~

~~Will it send scrambled garbage for that part of the desktop until the scrolling stops?~~

~~Will it crash trying to handle too much data?~~

~~Will it do something else I haven't thought of?~~

The process will be running on the machine you are connecting to and RDP will adjust to the bandwidth available.

pokeefe0001 · Sep 12, 2024

Well, that tells me it won't crash, but what does that "adjust" entail? Will it send an occasional complete image of the desktop - as often as the connection speed will allow?

OAT · Sep 12, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
Well, that tells me it won't crash, but what does that "adjust" entail? Will it send an occasional complete image of the desktop - as often as the connection speed will allow?

I think you are worrying a bit too much about this.
Once again, the process runs on the connected system, all that is sent are the changes occurring within the active window.
You will always get a complete window and all of it will be legible.

garlin · Sep 12, 2024

Bottom line: If you're concerned about RDP consuming too much bandwidth while some long task is running — simply disconnect the session. Don't log off, disconnect.

The remote desktop continues running in the background, and you can reconnect at any time and see the desktop's current state. And disconnect again.

pokeefe0001 · Sep 12, 2024

garlin said:
Bottom line: If you're concerned about RDP consuming too much bandwidth while some long task is running — simply disconnect the session. Don't log off, disconnect.

The remote desktop continues running in the background, and you can reconnect at any time and see the desktop's current state. And disconnect again.

No, I am worrying that the limited bandwidth will keep me from seeing the current status of the work being done. I might need to kill the process quickly if things go wrong. (Actually, things have never gone wrong with this stuff, but I worry.) I know I won't be able to see everything. I just want to be sure that what I do see happened within the last few seconds, not minutes ago.

garlin · Sep 12, 2024

Can you use psexec to the remote host instead of RDP? If it's a CMD-based task, then it should be adequate.

pokeefe0001 · Sep 12, 2024

Nope. Not a CMD-based task. I'll stick with RDP.

cereberus · Sep 13, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
No, I am worrying that the limited bandwidth will keep me from seeing the current status of the work being done. I might need to kill the process quickly if things go wrong. (Actually, things have never gone wrong with this stuff, but I worry.) I know I won't be able to see everything. I just want to be sure that what I do see happened within the last few seconds, not minutes ago.

It will be fine unless bandwidth is so low, particularly as you are really monitoring text.

A bigger concern is using rdp to connect over the internet as it is not that secure. Many discussions on web about this.

hsehestedt · Sep 13, 2024

Also, don't forgot that you can tweak Remote Desktop so that it will consume significantly less bandwidth than the default settings. For example, when you bring up the Remote Desktop app, you can click on "show options", then on the display tab, change the settings there. Drop the display down to 15 or 16 bit rather than leaving it at 32 bit. That will make a significant difference if the screen is refreshing a lot. You can also go to the experience tab and "lie" to it by telling it that you have a lower bandwidth connection than you actually have. This will cause it to do even more to use less bandwidth, however, I would just try the default first.

pokeefe0001 · Sep 13, 2024

cereberus said:
A bigger concern is using rdp to connect over the internet as it is not that secure. Many discussions on web about this.

I'll be on a VPN connection to my router. Security shouldn't be a major problem.

hsehestedt said:
Also, don't forgot that you can tweak Remote Desktop so that it will consume significantly less bandwidth than the default settings. For example, when you bring up the Remote Desktop app, you can click on "show options", then on the display tab, change the settings there. Drop the display down to 15 or 16 bit rather than leaving it at 32 bit. That will make a significant difference if the screen is refreshing a lot.

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

Bree · Sep 13, 2024

pokeefe0001 said:
Thanks. I'll give that a try.

Do you have a second PC on your network at home that's running Windows 10 or 11 Pro? If so, then you could enable Remote Desktop on it and practice/test some of these options.

Enable or Disable Remote Desktop in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable allowing Remote Desktop connections to your Windows 11 PC. You can use Remote Desktop to connect to and control your PC from a remote device by using a Microsoft Remote Desktop client (available for Windows, iOS, macOS and Android). When you...

www.elevenforum.com

pokeefe0001 · Sep 13, 2024

Bree said:
Do you have a second PC on your network at home that's running Windows 10 or 11 Pro? If so, then you could enable Remote Desktop on it and practice/test some of these options.

Yes, I don have multiple computers, and one of them I access almost exclusively via Remote Desktop. (It's an old test PC the lives in a corner of my basement. I'm too lazy to go use it in person.) Testing and practicing setting and using the options is easy. Seeing the effect of low bandwidth is more problematic. I'm soon going to be using a hotel's less that stellar internet access and want to be prepared.

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