rdesktop (RDP) Vs ICA

[Kirk MacLean_2]

Four Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) vs ICA Questions

1.) rdesktop Vs ICA
We have an old NT4 Server with Metaframe for about five HP-UX workstation clients. My questions are about replacing this old Citrix system with a newer server. There is no Metaframe upgrade path with the earlier workgroup edition so we have to buy new. Is rdesktop is a viable replacement for Metaframe? Our Metaframe support ended long ago and has not been needed. I would like to know how others have found rdesktop, if it’s stable and performs well, it should be a great solution. What about METAFRAME PRESENTATION SVR 3.0 STANDARD EDTN w/ ICA on HP-UX?

2.) Compile Libraries:
To compile rdesktop, what are the requirements of HP-UX? Is Gnu C all that is required?

3.) Thin-client OS or Application?
An article at
http://techrepublic.com.com/5102-6270-5035157.html
indicates both rdesktop and PXES can be used as an Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client access application.
http://pxes.sourceforge.net/
PXES says it is compatible with HP-UX. What does this mean? My guess is that it can access HP-UX with an XDM session not run on HP-UX to run Windows Apps through RDP.

4.) Are there other RDP client applications worth considering?

Thank you!

[Rick Garland]

I am running rdesktop on Linux and connecting to a W2K server with no issues at all. Compiled with gcc with no problems as well.

With the rdesktop in place I have no need for the ICA.

All that I found required is that terminal services be running on the client system - W2K.

[Dorothee Singer]

hi,
we use rdesktop since one year now and it works quite well.
we have the version 1.3.1 and with this all problems from 1.2.0 were solved.
(e.g. copy/paste from unix to windows)
also the colour ist now better - it works with true colour (can i say so ?- not sure what the right description is; but in 1.2.0 there where problems whith high colors.)

anyway - compiling was for me a bit tricky but after the first success with the old version it was o.k. with the new one.

gcc worked well.

last: our users are really happy with it - they worked with metaframe before. they say, the performance is really good or perhaps even better.

hope this helps!

yours,
dorothee singer