Windows 10: RDP to Headless Media Server

Discus and support RDP to Headless Media Server in Windows 10 Network and Sharing to solve the problem; Not sure which area of the forum to post this, and thought the networking was probably the most relevant. I've built a home media server using a... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Network and Sharing' started by christof21, Jun 23, 2016.

  1. RDP to Headless Media Server


    Not sure which area of the forum to post this, and thought the networking was probably the most relevant.

    I've built a home media server using a little AMD 5350 on a mini ITX board.

    I installed Windows 10 on it this week as I couldn't get my head around Linux at all.

    I'm now running the box as a headless media server, as it's all updated and configured, however I can't seem to RDP into it at all when it's headless.

    As soon as I connect it back to a monitor, and reboot it, RDP is fine.

    Is there a setting I'm missing, or can you not run Windows 10 on a headless machine?

    :)
     
    christof21, Jun 23, 2016
    #1
  2. B_Belnap Win User

    RDP Lag, slow performance between Windows 10 PCs

    Can't edit for some reason.

    Computer B is headless, acting as a server. I hooked up a monitor and tested RDP from B to A and from B to C and everything was fine. It's just the connection from A to B that is the issue.
     
    B_Belnap, Jun 23, 2016
    #2
  3. How to get high resolutions (beyond Full HD) in a headless RDP session

    Hi!

    Just did that. Thanks for the advice. In case you want to close this and add the link to the

    Technet Forum article
    .

    Cheers,

    Udo
     
    Udo Neßhöver, Jun 23, 2016
    #3
  4. NavyLCDR New Member

    RDP to Headless Media Server

    Are you also disconnecting the mouse and keyboard at the same time? Some bios won't boot without a mouse and keyboard - or there is a setting in bios to disable mouse and keyboard detection.
     
    NavyLCDR, Jun 23, 2016
    #4
  5. thanks for the reply.

    Yes the mouse and keyboard are disconnected, however the issue occurs when the machine is on already.

    So yesterday morning for example, I had the machine connected to a monitor to finish setting up software etc, I unplugged the mouse, keyboard and monitor after that.

    The RDP session worked ok, but then later in the day wouldn't allow me access.

    When I got home I connected everything back up, and it was all completely locked. I couldn't even get a display to show on the monitor.

    After rebooting with peripherals connected everything worked.

    So I'm wondering if for some reason during the day, there was a random auto reboot, and then with no peripherals connected, that's whats caused it to lock up....hmmmmmmm

    I shall have to look into the bios over the weekend.
     
    christof21, Jun 23, 2016
    #5
  6. NavyLCDR New Member
    I highly recommend RDP Wrapper in your circumstance. Not sure if it will solve your specific issue or not but RPD Wrapper allows you to be in an RDP session without affecting the local console account logged it. So, when my media client computer boots, it automatically logs in to a local account created only to run KODI and KODI comes up on my TV which can be controlled by any number of remote control methods. With RDP Wrapper I can RDP into the media client computer on an administrator account (either MS account or local user account) and do what I need to do without the user account showing KODI on my TV being disturbed at all.

    Download the zip file. I run install.bat as administrator. Then run update.bat as administrator. Then I run the RDPConf program and look for the "listening" status and "fully supported" status. Works great!
    Releases · stascorp/rdpwrap · GitHub
     
    NavyLCDR, Jun 23, 2016
    #6
  7. Never heard of this before. I'll look into it. Thanks *Wink
     
    christof21, Jun 24, 2016
    #7
  8. RDP to Headless Media Server

    So I checked my motherboard settings over the weekend and there is a setting in there for disabling USB during boot until into the OS.

    Not done anything with that so far, but have had the box connected to my monitors and USB devices over the weekend, so essentially running as a normal PC.

    Some odd things happened, that I'm not sure about now.

    Complete lock up of everything at some point when the PC wasn't in use.

    Was running find via RDP all day yesterday. Around 6pm left alone until this morning.

    Turned the monitors on, and there was a complete freeze of the system. No USB devices working at all. Networking not working either.

    Stuck on the Windows 10 lock screen. Unable to RDP into the machine either, it's as if it wasn't on the network.

    Something really odd. Rebooted and fine.

    My power settings are set to never sleep or lock screen as it's been designed to run as a headless machine.

    Completely baffled now
     
    christof21, Jun 27, 2016
    #8
  9. wyldman68 Win User
    Is your network devices set to never sleep, too? Device manager / properties of the network device, power management, uncheck all boxes.
     
    wyldman68, Jun 27, 2016
    #9
  10. I don't have a power management option in the network device properties at all.

    I've checked the advanced tab as well, and no power management options at all.
     
    christof21, Jun 27, 2016
    #10
  11. NavyLCDR New Member
    Do you have the latest drivers for the network adapter installed from either the manufacturer of the motherboard or from the manufacturer of the network adapter chip (probably Realtek or Intel)?
     
    NavyLCDR, Jun 27, 2016
    #11
  12. I checked the latest drivers from the Asus website and the network adapter already has the latest versions.

    I've updated the chipset and bios now as well to the latest versions for the MB.

    Been running fine for days since doing that, then actually using the machine this morning, was in the middle of loading a website up and everything froze, so I got to see it happen this time live.

    All peripherals stopped responding, screen froze, had to do a hard reboot.

    Is there any sort of system monitoring I can install that might help explain what was happening leading up to the system freeze?
     
    christof21, Jun 30, 2016
    #12
  13. NavyLCDR New Member

    RDP to Headless Media Server

    There are Windows event logs, but I am not really familiar with troubleshooting Windows freezing up. You might want to start a new thread about that problem under the General heading because it doesn't sound like that problem is related to the network connection specifically.
     
    NavyLCDR, Jun 30, 2016
    #13
  14. Thanks, I'll do that now, as it's driving me crazy *Wink
     
    christof21, Jul 5, 2016
    #14
  15. jimbo45 Win User
    Hi there

    the problem with running Windows as a headless server is that if it needs say an input for any reason before the OS can continue then you are literally "Stuffed". You'll need to satisfy the input request before the OS can continue and you'll have to do that on THE LOCAL machine !!!.

    Windows is essentially a SINGLE USER GUI- so while you can use it as a headless server it's not ideal for this purpose.

    You also need to disable anything that require periodic attention such as update reminders etc. If Windows updates automatically then you are hosed up as well.

    IMO it's worth perservering with any decent Linux distro for running this type of server -- It's not that difficult to learn the basics. Just start with a "Live CD" to practice with and learn a few commands and you are all set. You don't need to be a Guru to get a system up and running.

    All you need is to install SAMBA, your music / video servers, define your file shares and that's about it.
    (PLEX works fine on Linux for both music and Video serving and is recognized by Google Chromecast if you use one of those devices to play video on your remote TV's.)

    Most Linuxes have a GUI very similar to Windows - KDE or MINT are good "Windows like" GUI's. Linux being a multi-user system from the outset won't halt if something needs an input request and will run very nicely as a headless server.

    I'm running TWO "NAS" servers on CENTOS with KDE -- never a problem with them - rarely need booting either.

    For CENTOS installing software is simple -- package YUMEX makes installing software very simple - easy GUI.


    RDP to Headless Media Server [​IMG]



    Cheers
    jimbo
     
    jimbo45, Jul 5, 2016
    #15
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RDP to Headless Media Server

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