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Controlling programs via RDP on WHS? RRS feed

  • Question

  • Hey all, is there any way to view running applications on the WHS box via RDP?

    What I want to do is run iTunes 24/7 on the WHS box, and I want to be able to control the playlists via RDP or the internet console login.

    I need to be able to view the running iTunes program on the WHS box when I login, and then change playlists/etc afterward. Is this possible?

    tl;dr

    Basically I need to be able to login via RDP/Console and see the minimized iTunes on the bottom bar, be able to open it and change playlists. =P
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 5:27 AM

Answers

  • iTunes is a desktop application, not designed to be used to serve/stream music from a server without user interaction. Try FireFly instead. It's an open source DAAP-compliant streaming server.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 5:30 AM
    Moderator
  • What are you using to transmit and play the audio through your house, other than your server?

    To do what you want you need access to the console session on your server. You can get that access in a remote desktop session using the /admin switch, as detailed here. Note: you may find it difficult to control iTunes even in the Remote Desktop console session, which is why I suggested FireFly.

    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 3:39 PM
    Moderator

All replies

  • iTunes is a desktop application, not designed to be used to serve/stream music from a server without user interaction. Try FireFly instead. It's an open source DAAP-compliant streaming server.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 5:30 AM
    Moderator
  • If you need RDP access simply run mstsc.exe from any client in your network (or mstsc.exe /console if the program is not running as a service but on the local admin desktop)

    If you need RDP access from outside your LAN you have to setup remote access for your WHS box from the WHS console, then you can use an Add-in such as Program Launcher to get to the desktop. There's also other ways to do this, however you risk compromising security.
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 8:19 AM
    Moderator
  • My intention isn't to stream iTunes to other machines.  Let me detail.

    The WHS box is on 24/7 in my house.  I have an iPod dock running 24/7 playing music throughout my house.  I want to join the two systems together, and have WHS playing iTunes in my house 24/7.

    I have run mstsc.exe and logged in from within the LAN, but when I gain access I cannot actually see the running applications on the WHS box.  If iTunes is open and minimized to the bottom bar, I cannot see that it is open, nor skip songs, playlists, etc.

    I have configured WHS to show the explorer/desktop but still cannot view the running applications as I've described above.  I have also tried Program Launcher, however, it seems to attempt loading iTunes on the local machine I'm RDPing from, not the WHS box. =\
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 3:03 PM
  • What are you using to transmit and play the audio through your house, other than your server?

    To do what you want you need access to the console session on your server. You can get that access in a remote desktop session using the /admin switch, as detailed here. Note: you may find it difficult to control iTunes even in the Remote Desktop console session, which is why I suggested FireFly.

    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 3:39 PM
    Moderator
  • Thanks for the replies Ken, they truly are appreciated.

    I use a standard output from the onboard Realtek card, runs to my Onkyo receiver and just plays the sound via my house speakers (wired to each room, split from a splitter upstairs).  There are individual control knobs in each room for speaker volume.  Currently the iPod dock just connects via RCA composite cables straight into the receiver, I just want it to run on the WHS box.  It is already setup to do so, I just have no way to change playlists via RDP, so I am stuck listening to the same thing all the time. =P

    I will have the check out the /admin switch.  Never done/tried that before.
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 4:33 PM
  • What you're doing (running a desktop application on your server, i.e. iTunes) is unsupported and not recommended. iTunes is particularly problematic in your scenario because it's incapable of sharing it's library with multiple instance of the software, whether running on different machines or the same machine simultaneously in different sessions. In your environment, it's actually not too difficult to corrupt the iTunes library to the point where you have to rebuild it from scratch.

    I think in the long run you'd be better off with more intelligent playback devices (I like the Roku Soundbridge, but anything that can consume the streams that FireFly provides is fine) and something on your server that's designed to run as a completely non-interactive service. That would allow different people to listen to different music in different rooms. Still, for now the /admin switch (or /console if you don't have the current TS client on some computer) will probably do well enough. Just remember that Windows Home Server is not a desktop operating system. :)

    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 5:59 PM
    Moderator
  • Yep I definitely realize that, more so now than ever, hah.  This has been a pretty large pain to setup, but the money has been spent and I have an unending desire to get it functional. =P

    I had considered external hardware like the Roku before, but it is just another component to buy.  My entire intent is to simplify the hardware and devices involved as much as possible.
    Tuesday, March 24, 2009 6:52 PM
  • Well, mstsc /admin for the win!  Worked like a charm. =)  Now I just need to get it setup properly for external RDP, as I've only been able to test from within the LAN.

    The final hurdle to clear!  Thanks again Ken.
    Wednesday, March 25, 2009 9:38 PM