Windows Remote Desktop Problem

[Quinquangular]

Just moved into college and have been trying to use Microsoft RDP to control my Windows PC from my MacBook. I was able to do this before in my home network on wifi.

However, it gives me an error saying to change the name of the PC to the IP address. I found the local IPv4 address and put it in the field, try to connect, and it fails saying that the PC isn't connected or whatever.

Is it different since I'm at a dorm wifi connection? How can I remedy this? All the other Remote Desktop connection apps really suck and I prefer Window's built in one...

[PorkishPig]

4 minutes ago, Quinquangular said:

Just moved into college and have been trying to use Microsoft RDP to control my Windows PC from my MacBook. I was able to do this before in my home network on wifi.

However, it gives me an error saying to change the name of the PC to the IP address. I found the local IPv4 address and put it in the field, try to connect, and it fails saying that the PC isn't connected or whatever.

Is it different since I'm at a dorm wifi connection? How can I remedy this? All the other Remote Desktop connection apps really suck and I prefer Window's built in one...

In most cases, college wireless or wired networks will not have ports open that allow you to host a web server, RDP connection, or FTP connection. If you really need to RDP into your desktop, I would suggest that you use TeamViewer and add the computer to your always allow connections list in your account.

[Quinquangular]

1 minute ago, Homeless_Pineapple said:

In most cases, college wireless or wired networks will not have ports open that allow you to host a web server, RDP connection, or FTP connection. If you really need to RDP into your desktop, I would suggest that you use TeamViewer and add the computer to your always allow connections list in your account.

Are ports required to be opened even though it's a LAN connection since both laptops are on the same network?

[PorkishPig]

Just now, Quinquangular said:

Are ports required to be opened even though it's a LAN connection since both laptops are on the same network?

Windows RDP relies on ports 3389 for TCP or 3389 for UDP connections. Keeping this ports closed to computers on a local network helps prevent unwanted or illegal content distribution on campus to other computers. In most cases, schools will only allow RDP access to secure computers of faculty with static IP addresses, where they can guarantee data security.

[dmuirhead]

Any IT Dept worth their salt would isolate all hosts on a shared wireless LAN.  That stops one host communicating with another and only allows access to the default gateway.  

 

It's got nothing to do with ports, unless the wireless network is not isolated, and  the software firewall on your PC (Windows firewall) has switched to "Public" which would stop RDP.