您可能听说过远程桌面连接，无论是在工作中，从您的网络管理员(network admin)那里还是从一个对计算机和网络相当极客和知识渊博的朋友那里。如果您不知道什么是远程桌面连接，那么本文适合您。在收到有关远程桌面连接的目的和有用性(purpose and usefulness)的许多问题后，我们得出的结论是，如果我们向您解释一些关于它们是什么以及它们如何使您的生活变得更好的基本知识，那将是一个好主意在某些情况下更容易。开始了：
什么是远程桌面连接(Desktop Connection)？
要了解远程桌面连接(desktop connection)是什么，我们需要了解它的作用和方式。远程桌面连接(desktop connection)意味着存在两台可以相互通信的计算机。这意味着它们必须通电并连接到同一网络或连接到Internet。
远程桌面连接(desktop connection)允许您使用几乎任何计算机或设备(computer or device)来连接到另一台计算机。远程连接后，您可以访问已连接计算机上的所有资源。这意味着您可以不受限制地控制鼠标和键盘，并且可以在所连接的计算机的屏幕上看到发生的一切。此外(Furthermore)，不受限制地访问远程计算机上的所有资源也意味着，如果您实际上是从它所在的位置使用它，那么您可以做任何事情。
为了更清楚地了解这一切，想象一下这样一种情况：您必须在紧迫的期限内完成所有工作，而您无法在办公室完成所有工作，但您需要在办公室计算机(office computer)上工作。如果您可以呆在家里但仍然在办公室的电脑(office computer)上工作，那不是很好吗？也就是说，无需随身携带办公室计算机(office computer)！
好吧，如果您在工作计算机(work computer)和家用计算机(home computer)之间设置远程桌面连接(desktop connection)，这一切皆有可能。您办公室中的一台将是主机（因为您正在使用它），而家中的计算机将是客户端（因为它是用于建立连接的计算机）。然后，在设置远程桌面连接(desktop connection)后，您可以坐在家用计算机(home computer)前，但实际上您是在办公室计算机(office computer)上工作。这是一个非常有用的工具，你不觉得吗？
建立远程桌面连接(Remote Desktop Connections)需要什么？
首先(First)，为了能够在两台不同的计算机之间建立远程桌面连接(desktop connection)，它们都应该连接到同一个局域网(area network)。或者，它们可以通过Internet连接，但在这种情况下，主机(host computer)的IP 地址(IP address)必须是公共的。
其次，为了能够在两台计算机之间建立远程桌面连接，它们必须(desktop connection)开箱即用地支持此功能(feature out-of-the-box)（通过安装的操作系统），或者它们必须运行专门的远程桌面应用程序(remote desktop apps)。
如果您使用的是Windows计算机，好消息是大多数最新版本的Windows（Windows 7、Windows 8.1和Windows 10）都支持远程桌面连接。坏消息是并非所有Windows版本都可以。此功能在以下版本的Windows中可用：
- Windows 7专业版(Professional)、旗舰版和企业版(Ultimate and Enterprise)；
- Windows 8.1 专业版和企业版；
- Windows 10 专业版和企业版。
如果您要通过远程桌面连接连接(desktop connection)的两台计算机都在上述列表中的一个Windows操作系统上运行，那么一切都很好。您所要做的就是设置您的远程桌面连接(desktop connection)。如果您需要有关如何做到这一点的指导，这些教程是一个很好的起点：
- 如何在Windows中启用(Windows)远程桌面连接(Remote Desktop Connections)- 本指南向您展示了您需要采取的所有步骤，以便让您的Windows 主机(Windows host)计算机准备好接受传入的远程桌面连接。
- 如何从 Windows远程连接到(From Windows)Windows PC(A Windows PC) - 本教程解释了您需要在Windows 客户端(Windows client)计算机上执行的操作，以便与远程主机建立远程(host computer)桌面连接(desktop connection)。
- 如何使用适用于Windows 8.1的(Windows 8.1)远程桌面应用程序(Remote Desktop App)- 如果您更喜欢使用现代通用应用程序，本指南将向您展示如何使用适用于Windows 8.1和Windows 10的(Windows 10)远程桌面应用程序(Remote Desktop app)，以连接到Windows 远程(Windows remote)主机(host computer)。
虽然Windows是绝大多数人和公司的首选操作系统，但也有一些人还使用其他平台： (operating system)Linux机器或Mac(Macs)。如果您在客户端计算机(client computer)上使用 Ubuntu 或OS X，我们之前发布的这些文章可能会派上用场：
- (Connect)通过远程桌面连接(Remote Desktop Connection)从Ubuntu连接到Windows PC
- 从Mac OS X远程连接到Windows 7 桌面(Desktop)
- 4+用于从Mac(Macs)远程连接到Windows PC的免费工具(Tools)
如果您发现自己想要在两台操作系统中不支持此功能的计算机之间建立远程桌面连接，或者您打算通过(desktop connection)Internet在两台计算机之间建立远程桌面连接(desktop connection)，但是主机(host computer)的IP 地址(IP address)不可见，那么您应该使用专门的应用程序和服务，(apps and services)例如TeamViewer 或 LogMeIn(TeamViewer or LogMeIn)。以下是有关TeamViewer通用应用程序的两个指南：
- 如何使用适用于 Windows 8.1 的TeamViewer Touch(Windows 8.1)应用程序(TeamViewer Touch App)
- 远程桌面应用程序(Remote Desktop App)与TeamViewer Touch -哪个应用程序更好(Better App)？
我们还想提一件事：到目前为止，我们已经讨论了两台计算机之间的远程桌面连接。但是，您也可以在其他类型的设备之间建立远程桌面连接。有点扭曲：主机设备(host device)必须是计算机。但客户不一定是。您用于远程访问主机(host computer)的设备可以是智能手机、平板电脑、混合设备等。例如，您可以使用Microsoft Lumia 智能手机(Microsoft Lumia smartphone)访问您的家庭计算机(home computer)。但要让它发挥作用，您需要一个知道如何建立远程桌面连接的应用程序。
结论
远程桌面(Remote desktop)连接允许您从几乎任何地方访问和控制计算机。这个功能对于很多人来说是无价的，我们首先想到的是技术支持团队、系统管理员和所有需要在家工作的人。🙂
Simple Questions: What Are Remote Desktop Connections?
You might have heard about remote desktop connections, either at work, from your network аdmin or just from a friend who is rather geeky and knowledgeаble about cоmрuters and networks. If you dоn't know what remote desktop connectionѕ arе, then this article is for you. Aftеr recеivіng a number of questions regarding the purpose and usefulness of remote desktop connections, we've come to the conclusion that it would be a good idea if we explained you a few basic things about what they are, and how they can make yoυr life easier in certain situations. Here we go:
What Is A Remote Desktop Connection?
To understand what a remote desktop connection is, we need to understand what it does and how. A remote desktop connection implies the existence of two computers that can communicate with each other. That means they have to be powered and connected to either the same network or be connected to the Internet.
A remote desktop connection allows you to use virtually any computer or device in order to connect to another computer. Once you connect remotely, you get access to all the resources on the computer you've connected to. That means you get unrestricted control over the mouse and the keyboard and you can see everything happening on the screen of the computer you've connected to. Furthermore, unrestricted access to all the resources on the remote computer also means you can do everything you could if you were actually using it from where it's located.
For a clearer view of all this, imagine a situation when you have to meet a tight deadline and you can't do all the work at your office, but you need to work on your office computer. Wouldn't it be great if you could stay at your home but still work on your office computer? That is, without physically taking your office computer with you!.
Well, all that is possible if you set a remote desktop connection between your work computer and your home computer. The one in your office would be the host (because you're working on it) and the computer at home would be the client (as it's the one used to establish the connection). Then, after the remote desktop connection is set, you could sit in front of your home computer but you'd actually be working on your office computer. It's a very useful tool, don't you think?
What Is Needed To Establish Remote Desktop Connections?
First of all, in order to be able to establish a remote desktop connection between two different computers, they should both be connected to the same local area network. Or, they can connect over the Internet, but in this case, the host computer's IP address must be public.
Secondly, to be able to establish a remote desktop connection between two computers, they must either support this feature out-of-the-box (by the operating systems that are installed), or they must run specialized remote desktop apps.
If you're using Windows computers, the good news is that most of recent versions of Windows (Windows 7, Windows 8.1 & Windows 10) all support remote desktop connections. The bad news is that not all Windows editions do. This feature is available in the following versions and editions of Windows:
- Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise;
- Windows 8.1 Pro and Enterprise;
- Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise.
If both the computers you want to connect via a remote desktop connection run on one of the Windows operating systems in the above list, then everything is great. All you have to do is set up your remote desktop connection. And if you need guidance on how to do that, these tutorials are a very good starting point:
While Windows is the operating system of choice for the vast majority of people and companies, there are some who also use other platforms: either Linux machines or Macs. If you use Ubuntu or OS X on your client computer, these articles we've previously published might come in handy:
And if you find yourself in a situation in which you want to establish a remote desktop connection between two computers that either don't support this feature in their operating systems, or you intend to create a remote desktop connection between two computers over the Internet, but the host computer's IP address isn't visible, then you should use specialized apps and services like TeamViewer or LogMeIn. Here are two guides about the TeamViewer universal app:
There is one more thing we'd like to mention: up until now we've talked about remote desktop connections between two computers. However, you can also establish remote desktop connections between other kinds of devices too. With a twist: the host device must be a computer. But the client doesn't have to be. The device you use to access the host computer remotely can be a smartphone, a tablet, a hybrid device, etc. For instance, you can use your Microsoft Lumia smartphone to access your home computer. But for that to work, you'll need an app that knows how to make remote desktop connections.
Conclusion
Remote desktop connections allow you to access and control a computer from virtually anywhere. This feature is invaluable for many people out there, and the first ones we think of are technical support teams, system administrators and all those who need to take their work at home. 🙂
