- I went to download the Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) and it says this download is no longer available. There is no news for it being taken away.
- This article provides guidelines to install and configure the Remote Desktop Session Host role service on a computer that is running Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2012 R2 without the Remote Desktop Connection Broker role service installed.
In Windows Server 2012 R2 and earlier versions, when a user logs on to a terminal server, the RCM contacts the domain controller (DC) to query the configurations that are specific to Remote Desktop on the user object in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).
In March, Microsoft announced that it was discontinuing Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) due to a major security flaw (CVE-2020-0765). Here is the bulletin:
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) application when it improperly parses XML input containing a reference to an external entity. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could read arbitrary files via an XML external entity (XXE) declaration. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker could create an RDG file containing specially crafted XML content and convince an authenticated user to open the file.
Here’s what ZDNet said about Microsoft’s response to the problem: “Instead of fixing the bug, Microsoft decided to retire RDCMan, seeing no reason to revive an app that received its last update almost six years ago.”
Limited Functionality
Even before this major vulnerability was discovered, many users found RDCMan frustrating and limited. For example, it lacked many of the time-saving integrations available in other (and better) alternatives. Plus, RDCMan only worked in Windows deployments. And overall, RDCMan — even by Microsoft’s admission — was always a very basic tool and never designed to handle sophisticated functions like utilizing 2FA, managing privileged accounts, securing sensitive data, generating strong passwords, creating audit logs, and so on.
Step 1: Stop Using RDCMan
If you’re a current RDCMan user, then the advice is clear: stop using it. Yes, you and your team may have been using it for years. But now that this bug has been made public, you can be certain that bad actors are mobilizing and will be specifically targeting this vulnerability. Considering the costs of a data breach (and how furious your boss would be), it’s not worth the risk.
Step 2: Give Remote Desktop Manager a Try!
If you’re looking for a free alternative to RDCMan, then Remote Desktop Manager (RDM) Free could be exactly what you need. RDM Free is designed for individual IT pros, while RDM Enterprise is designed for IT teams (co-located and remote) who need to share remote connections and privileged passwords. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two solutions. Also, be assured that RDM Free is not nagware, donationware, or trialware. It’s a legitimate, standalone solution for IT pros that is constantly being updated.
Interested in trying RDM, but you don’t want to lose your data? Good news! You can import your sessions from an existing application or an existing file format. You can follow this online help right here.
RDM Enterprise
Switching from RDCMan to Remote Desktop Manager (RDM) Enterprise is a significant upgrade in every area. Here is a helpful chart to help you compare the differences.
For a complete list of features in RDM, please head over here.
Try RDM
We invite you to try RDM Enterprise free for 30 days, and to explore all of its features and functions. Then when your trial period is over, you can either purchase an affordable license (multiple options are available based on your needs), or you can switch over to RDM Free and use it for as long as you wish without paying anything.
Other Alternatives
If RDM (Free or Enterprise) isn’t the alternative to RDCMan that you’re looking for, then we suggest you head to AlternativeTo, where you’ll find profiles and reviews of various remote connection tools.
As an IT systems administrator or manager, it’s important to have the appropriate tools at your disposal to get your work done efficiently and accurately. Remote desktop connection tools are a key piece of the puzzle because they help you with troubleshooting and help you quickly resolve end-user issues.
Manually managing remote connections eats up time you could be spending on higher priority tasks. Using a remote desktop connection manager allows you to focus on more important things. My top choices are SolarWinds® Dameware® Remote Support (DRS) for on-premises use and SolarWinds Dameware Remote Everywhere (DRE) for use in the cloud. Read on to learn more about the best remote desktop connection managers or click on the links below to jump ahead to each tool review.
- Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager
What Is a Remote Desktop Connection Manager?
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager Windows 10 Download
A remote desktop connection manager is used to manage remote desktop administration for the different connections and sessions you have. Typical enterprises have multiple Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions per day and managing these manually means having to repeatedly enter your credentials. Logging in and keeping track of these sessions can become tiresome even without having to make SSH or Telnet connections for troubleshooting.
A remote desktop connection manager or RDP client consolidates your connections in one place, so you don’t have to log in to numerous remote connection sessions per day.
Best Remote Desktop Connection Managers
There are several good remote desktop connection managers available today. Here are my top five.
1. SolarWinds Dameware Remote Support
One of my top choices for a remote desktop connection manager, Dameware Remote Support, is a high-quality remote administration software designed to help you provide efficient end-user support when something goes wrong.
DRS supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, and it comes with several utilities to help with remote control and troubleshooting. First, it can connect either through a LAN or over the internet. This facilitates troubleshooting through distributed networks and gives you the ability to fix a problem even when the LAN is having issues. Second, you can use DRS to stop, start, or reboot processes and services. Drive repair for mac. Additionally, you can use it to copy and delete files and view and clear event logs.
DRS also provides you with several direct system tools and TCP utilities, allowing you to remotely troubleshoot without having to launch a full remote session. This helps keep productivity disruptions to a minimum while the problem is resolved.
DRS provides numerous Active Directory and user account management tools to manage and set up your Active Directory users, groups, and domains. In addition, you can remotely edit policies, reset passwords, and unlock accounts.
You can also centrally manage who has access to DRS itself and set up login processes, so you don’t have to re-enter credentials every time. With multi-factor authentication, DRS is a safe way to manage remote access troubleshooting within your IT environment.
You can download a free trial of Dameware Remote Support for up to 14 days.
2. SolarWinds Dameware Remote Everywhere
My other top choice is Dameware Remote Everywhere, another tool offered by SolarWinds. DRE provides many of the same features as DRS but is specifically designed for a cloud environment. It also provides a few extra features, such as remote connection to mobile devices, live chat and connection for troubleshooting (including VoIP and videoconferencing), and support for Android and iOS devices.
Otherwise, it’s essentially the same tool. It’s sold as an annual license—with included product support—for use in a cloud setting. Additionally, the tool integrates with SolarWinds Service Desk to provide a complete service and troubleshooting approach.
Like Dameware Remote Support, you can access a free trial of Dameware Remote Everywhere for 14 days.
3. Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan)
Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) is useful for establishing regular remote connections. Like other tools, it can save login credentials, so you don’t need to enter your credentials every time you want to create a remote connection.
Windows Remote Desktop
RDCMan also supports connections between virtual machines and consoles, allows you to establish smart groups, and gives you the ability to import servers from a text file. This tool is useful for supporting RDP connections, but it cannot support other protocols for a broader range of remote connections. It’s essentially an RDP client, and other tools are much broader in terms of their protocol offerings.
You can download RDCMan for free through the Microsoft website.
4. Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager
With this remote desktop manager, you can automatically launch and consolidate connections in one centralized window. You can also save your login credentials with “one-click” connections, making it easier to manage multiple remote sessions.
Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager makes it possible to share your remote sessions with your team members and manage and control other users’ access to accounts. With secure password vaults and two-factor authentication, this tool takes a secure approach to remote desktop connection management.
A free trial of the Enterprise Edition is available.
5. mRemoteNG
mRemoteNG is an open-source software designed to serve as a centralized tool for managing remote connections. It allows you to see your remote connections in an interface relying on a tabbing system, and it supports several protocols for establishing remote connections, including RDP, VNC, ICA, SSH, Telnet, HTTP/HTTPS, rlogin, and raw socket connections.
This free tool is light on features. As such, it’s best suited for home users and IT staff in a small business without the budget for a professional tool.
How to Choose the Best Remote Desktop Connection Manager Tool
When considering the right remote desktop manager for your business, think about the size of the company and the kind of problems you’re trying to solve. If you’re a small or midsized business or you want to play around with remote desktop connection management, a free tool may be enough. However, large companies will need a premium tool with a broader range of features to support complex and distributed troubleshooting.
For IT professionals looking for an on-premises solution, I recommend Dameware Remote Support. For a cloud system, my pick is Dameware Remote Everywhere. These and other premium tools offer free trials, which can help you choose the right tool for your business.