Am I looking at the console when I use remote desktop?

Question

When I'm using remote-desktop to a Windows 2003 server, I'd like to have some way of knowing if I'm looking at the console session. Is there please some way I can have something (such as a special wallpaper backdrop) that only comes on with the console?

Many thanks.

CLARIFICATION:
I already know how to call the RDP client to request a console or normal session. I'd like to know if there's a way I can tell looking at a running session if it's the console or not.

Here's the back-story...
I had a batch file that connected me to the console session of a remote 2003 server. It worked fine until I put SP3 on my XP workstation. The command line option changed, but the batch file opened up a normal session without an error message or any indication I wasn't looking at the console.

Solution 1

This in not an answer the easiest way to check

Start -> Run -> cmd Click Ok.

On the command window type

  set sessionname

This will show if it is console or not

Hope this help!

Solution 2

You need to connect to the "administrative session" or to the "console". How to do it is different by version of Windows Server.

In each case, create an RDP file by saving the RDP session from the remote desktop client. Then ope the RDP file in notepad using Context Menu -> Open With, and add these two lines at the bottom:

administrative session:i:1
connect to console:i:1

Connect to console is for pre-2008. Administrative Session is for 2008 onwards.

Alternatively you can use the /console switch from the command line for 2003.

Finally, you can connect to a regular session, and shadow the console using the command "shadow 0" or the right-click from the Task Manager Users tab.

Solution 3

Short answer: There is no visual way to tell a console sessions from a regular TS session. You cannot have distinct wallpaper because that's determined by your user session and will be therefore be the same either way.

Depending on the client version you're running you connect to the console using either the /console (old versions) or /admin parameter. Unfortunately, at least a one I've tried needs the latter syntax but doesn't tell you there's an error when using the /colsole switch. That means you can be under the illusion that you're connected to the console when you're not.

Solution 4

qwinsta will show all existing sessions, yours will be marked with a >.

Solution 5

Try running with the /console parameter. From a command prompt, type:

mstsc /v:your_server_name_here /console

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Comments

[John Gardeniers]

Why is it "obviously" a super user question when it's clearly referring to a Server 2003 session?

[TomTom]

Using Remote Desktop?

[John Gardeniers]

Remote Desktop is what you get when you connect using RDP. Terminal Services is the service that provides Remote Desktop. Same thing whether it's a server or workstation. As some things can be different depending on whether you're connected to a regular session or a console session it can be important for an admin to know which one he/she is using.

[billpg]

Thanks. I'll make this a batch file that runs automatically when I log in. If I feel inclined, I'll make a little app that pops up a notification icon error balloon when this environment variable has the wrong value.

[Massimo]

+1 for pointing out the awful handling of command line parameters with the new "/admin" syntax :-( So much for backward compatibility...

[ggonsalv]

Use BGINFO to create a background screen. Here is a link technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897557.aspx. To add the session Add a New Custom -> of type 'Environment' and Path SESSIONNAME