PotomacSoft Terminal Bridge

Overview

PotomacSoft Terminal Bridge is exclusively developed to help Microsoft Terminal Services (also known as Remote Desktop) to pass firewalls and proxy servers and to overcome dynamic IP troubles. Many users prefer to use Microsoft terminal services for remote PC/server access because it is very fast and reliable. It also comes free with Microsoft Windows. The most significant drawback of Microsoft Terminal Services is that it is difficult to pass firewalls and proxy servers; it is also difficult to deal with dynamic IP addresses and routers. Terminal Bridge allows users to overcome those limitations easily. PotomacSoft Terminal Bridge together with Microsoft Terminal Services makes them as the ideal choice for remote PC/server access.

Cost

Using standard version of Terminal Bridge is free. You will be able to create instant free user account.

License Agreement

You must read the license agreement and accept the license agreement before using this software.
For enterprise version, please read enterprise version for additional license agreement of server components.

Version Updates

Please click here for information about the future plan and version history.

Download - Standard Version 1.11

Please click pstbridge_s111.zip to download the standard version. You will be able to create a free user account instantly using the host program.
For enterprise version, please read enterprise version.

Installation - Standard Version

On both host and client machines, create a directory on your hard drive (e.g. c:\program files\tbridge or c:\tbridge) and unzip the downloaded zip file into the directory. You can then create shortcuts and copy the shortcuts to desktop or other places. For the first time you run pstbridgehost.exe or pstbridgeclient.exe, you should run it as Administrator in order for a service (PS Terminal Bridge Service) to get installed automatically.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you get the zip file from trusted sources. If you are not sure, please download from the link above.
For enterprise version installation, please read enterprise version.

Uninstall

Run pstbridge_uninstall.exe from the installation directory as Administrator. It will remove a service from your machine, clean up registry and delete files related to Terminal Bridge. After running pstbridge_uninstall.exe you need to manually delete pstbridge_uninstall.exe. pstbridge_uninstall.exe is also included in the distribution zip file.

Get Connected - Using shared servers

Make sure Microsoft terminal services (the host side of Remote Desktop) is started on your host machine. If you are not sure what is Microsoft Terminal Services, please goto link http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/remoteintro.mspx
On the host computer, run pstbridgehost.exe.
If you do not have a Terminal Bridge account yet, get an account using the "CreateUser" button for shared bridge servers. For security reason, we strongly recommend that your user ID and password should be different from your network user ID and password. For enterprise version you can only get your corporation user account from your administrator.
Configure the host program and hit Start button. Make sure the host program is in Ready status. You can now leave the host program open or hit "Hide" button to hide. If you hit the "Close" button, the host program will close completely and you will not be able to connect from the client.
On client computer run pstbridgeclient.exe.
Configure the client program to use the same profile and user account as those used in the host program. Hit Start button, the program will prompt you the host machine to connect to. Select the host and hit OK button. Make sure the client is in Ready status. The client status will also show which host it is connected to. Also take a note of the "Remote Desktop Connect String" from the client GUI.
Hit the "OperateHost" button to operate the host machine. It will automatically launch Microsoft Remote Desktop client program to access the host machine. You could also open Microsoft Remote Desktop client, on the computer field, type in the "Remote Desktop Connect String" showing on the client GUI. And hit the connect button. Make sure you use the whole string including the numerical number followed by the colon. Note: For version 1.00 "OperateHost" button is not available and you must manually open Microsoft Remote Desktop client.
Then operate the "Remote Desktop" in normal way.

Notes:

Using enterprise version, you may not need to run the host program or even install Terminal Bridge on the host computer.
You can run multiple client instances to connect to multiple hosts, notice the different number you have in the "Remote Desktop Connect String". However you can open only one instance of host program on your host machine. If any new host instance opens, the previous instance will exit automatically.
If error occurs, use "TestConnect" button to make sure your computer can communicate with bridge servers successfully.
Two important things to remember: First you have to make the client program ready; then hit the "OperateHost" button to launch Microsoft Remote Desktop client in order to access the host machine or open Microsoft Remote Desktop client and use the connect string shown on the client GUI.

Screenshots

Please click here to see sample screenshots.

About Security

The data related to Terminal Services are encrypted by Microsoft Terminal Services and pass bridge servers without modifications. All the other data are encrypted using a standard 128 bit strong encryption. Using Terminal Bridge can make it more secure because you do not need to open port 3389; therefore, other people will not be able to even reach your host computer before passing Terminal Bridge login. After passing the Terminal Bridge login, it will still require normal network login. It is important that you should use strong password which cannot be guessed, also the Terminal Bridge user ID and password should be different from the user ID and password of your network. The bridge servers contain the information of the Terminal Bridge user accounts but do not have the information of your network user account.

System requirements

For the host computer, any of following machines will work:

Windows Vista non-home editions.
Windows XP Professional.
Windows 2003 Server
Windows 2000 with Terminal Services installed.

For client computer, any of following machines will work:

Windows Vista, any edition.
Windows XP, any edition.
Windows 2003 Server
Windows 9x/me/NT4.0/2000, need to install Terminal Services client.

To download free Microsoft Terminal Services client for Windows 9x/me/NT4.0/2000, please use link http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx

Standard Version vs. Enterprise Version

There are standard version of Terminal Bridge and Enterprise Version of Terminal Bridge. The main difference between the standard version and enterprise version is the bridge servers used. Standard version uses the shared servers provided by us, while enterprise version uses bridge servers run by your corporation. It is not our intention to reduce the functionalities of the standard version. However enterprise version has its own advantages because it uses its own servers and the servers sit in their Intranet. Please check enterprise version for more details. Standard version is free for downloads, we will do our best to keep our server access free although we do not guarantee that will not change. Standard version may popup some advertisements from us; it can also be slower depending on traffic. For enterprise version, we charge an onetime negotiated fee and will specially build the software according to the corporation's need. The enterprise version is licensed for you entire corporation with lifetime free version upgrades. Enterprise trial version is also available for free download with limitations. Please click here for more information about enterprise version.

Advantages of using Terminal Bridge

The main purpose of the Terminal Bridge is to help you to use Microsoft Terminal Services (Remote Desktop) even the host and the client computers are not within the same network. It passes firewalls and proxy servers, works transparently with dynamic IP addresses. There is no need to drill a hole on your firewalls and no special need to setup routers. Other advantages are as follows:

Standard version is free.
It is exclusively developed to work with Microsoft Terminal Services. It is really simple to use.
It is safer because you do not need to open port 3389 which can attract hacker attack. Users must pass bridge server login before reaching your host computer. It also comes with an anti-attack filter.
Faster than most of other solutions.
Data encrypted by Microsoft Terminal Services.

The following lists typical cases where Terminal Bridge is needed or not

Connection Cases	Terminal Services w/o Terminal Bridge	Terminal Services with Terminal Bridge
Host and client within corporation network	Easy	Easy but not really need Terminal Bridge
Host and client within home network	Easy	Easy but not really need Terminal Bridge
Home/Internet connect to office (office PC has global IP)	Possible, need to open firewall on corporation network.	Easy, no need to open firewall
Home/Internet connect to office (office PC has private IP)	Almost impossible	Easy, no need to open firewall
Office connect to home/Internet PC (home/Internet PC directly connect To the Internet)	Possible, trouble with dynamic IP issues, also need to open firewall on corporation network.	Easy, no special setup, no need to open firewall
Office connect to home/Internet PC (home/Internet PC connect to the Internet through router)	Very difficult, involves router setup, dynamic IP issues, also need to open firewall on corporation network.	Easy, no special setup, no need to open firewall
Connect two machines on the Internet	Possible, may involve router setup and dynamic IP issues	Easy, no special setup

To see additional benefits by using enterprise version, please click here

FAQ

Q: How can I change "Remote Desktop" settings such as mapping local drives to the host?
A: If you see a "Connection" dialog with a "Cancel" button after hitting "OperateHost", you can hit the "Cancel" button and you will see the "Remote Desktop Connection" dialog which will allow you to change settings. After changing the settings, hit "Connect" button. If you do not see the "Cancel" button, you should manually open Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection dialog; on the "Computer" field type in the connection string shown on the Terminal Bridge Client GUI; and change settings as you want. Then hit "Connect" button. Note: Remote Desktop defaults to use the settings of last connection.

Q: When do I need to run host program on host machine?
A: The only situation you normally do not need to run host program is that your host machine is within your corporation network and you are using enterprise version and you are using your corporation servers. In all other situations you have to run host program. Especially, if you are using the standard version, you will have to run the host program.

Q: How do I run an application as "Administrator"?
A: On Windows Vista, use explorer to browse the file, right click on the file name and select "Run As Administrator" in the popup menu. On earlier versions of Windows, login using an administrator account and run the application.

Q: What is profile?
A: The configuration file allows you to use two sets of settings. One set of settings is for using shared bridge servers and the other is for using corporation servers. The settings are independent, e.g. you can save different account for different profiles. For standard version, only "Use Shared Bridge Servers" is enabled.

Q: Can I use terminal services port other than 3389?
A: Yes. If you run the host program on host machine, the terminal services port is detected automatically by Terminal Bridge. The default port of terminal services is 3389. You do not need to open the port on firewall; Terminal Bridge can pass it. If you are using enterprise version and you do not run the host program, you can specify the port on the client GUI.

Q: How can I show the host program again after hiding?
A: Just run the host program again.

Q: How about the speed?
A: Using enterprise version, the speed is similar as directly using Terminal services (Remote Desktop). Most likely, the speed difference cannot be noticed. However, there are a few factors that can impact the speed of standard version. Luckily you should see it works quite well. See Enterprise version for more details.

Q: How do I reboot my host machine remotely?
A: This is a "Remote Desktop" question, you should run command "shutdown -r -f" on host machine. Where "-r" means reboot; "-f" means forced. Note that you should save all your work before running the command, or your work can be lost. Also if you want to connect back using Terminal Bridge and Remote Desktop after rebooting, you should make sure you checked "Auto Start" on the host GUI unless you are using Enterprise version and you do not run host program.

Q: How do I send Ctrl+Alt+Del to the host computer?
A: This is a "Remote Desktop" question, you should use Ctrl+Alt+End.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
On host, I got "Terminal Bridge Service is not properly started. You may need to run the program as Administrator."	Run pstbridgehost.exe as administrator. If you are using vista, right click the program and click "Run as Administrator" on the popup menu. If you are using earlier version, logon the computer using an administrator account and run the program. This need to be done only for one time.
On client, I got "Terminal Bridge Service is not properly started. You may need to run the program as Administrator, otherwise some functions of the program might not work."	The program should work, some functions including logging will not work. To resolve the problem, run pstbridgeclient.exe as Administrator. Read the solution for the item above. This need to be done only for one time.
I am not be able to connect to the host computer when using Remote Desktop.	Make sure Terminal Bridge client display Ready status. Also make sure in the computer field of the "Remote Desktop Connection" dialog, type in the string which is displaying on the right side of "Remote Desktop Connect String" on the client GUI.
In the host message list, I got "Warning: The Terminal Server on this host might have not been started. Please make sure the Terminal Server is started."	Make sure your host computer meet requirements. Also open "System Properties" dialog, go to remote tab and check "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer"
I receive "The remote connection has timed out. Please try connecting to the remote computer again." when using Remote Desktop.	One possibility is that the Terminal Services on the host is not up. Make sure it is up. The other problems could be network connection issues.
On the host message list, I got "Failed to connect to terminal server."	Make sure terminal Services on the host is up.
I got "The system could not log you on ..." when using Remote Desktop to connect to my host machine.	Make sure you are using the user account of the host machine rather than the bridge user account. Also make sure the user name is correct on the Remote Desktop login dialog. If you are connecting to several machines, Remote Desktop will prepopulate the user name as the last user name you used. This is the behavior of the Remote Desktop.
I got "Failed to connect to bridge server. Please make sure the Internet connection is okay."	There is a small chance that the bridge server is not up or is having a network problem. If you are sure the Internet connection is okay, you might want retry later.

Note: In the installation directory, you should be able to find some log files (activity.log and activity_prev.log). activity.log contains logging information for today's activities and activity_prev.log contains last day's activities. The logged messages can be more than those shown in the message list box. Quite often, you can look into the log files to find the reason of any problems.

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Support

Please send questions/suggestions and report bugs/problems to support@potomacsoft.com