RDCMan (Remote Desktop Connection Manager) is a convenient tool for Windows system administrators that allows to manage multiple RDP connection sessions in a single window, create tree-like structures with the remote Windows hosts (you are constantly using or managing), use different RDP connection settings for separate servers or groups. Remote desktop connection manager also known as RDCMan is a free tool by Microsoft used to manage multiple RDP connections. It is supported on all Windows versions including Windows XP to Windows 10 and Windows server 2003 to Windows server 2019. But you have to install the RDP client version 6 or newer.
In March, Microsoft announced that it was discontinuing Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) due to a major security flaw (CVE-2020-0765). Here is the bulletin:
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) application when it improperly parses XML input containing a reference to an external entity. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could read arbitrary files via an XML external entity (XXE) declaration. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker could create an RDG file containing specially crafted XML content and convince an authenticated user to open the file.
Here’s what ZDNet said about Microsoft’s response to the problem: “Instead of fixing the bug, Microsoft decided to retire RDCMan, seeing no reason to revive an app that received its last update almost six years ago.”
Limited Functionality
Even before this major vulnerability was discovered, many users found RDCMan frustrating and limited. For example, it lacked many of the time-saving integrations available in other (and better) alternatives. Plus, RDCMan only worked in Windows deployments. And overall, RDCMan — even by Microsoft’s admission — was always a very basic tool and never designed to handle sophisticated functions like utilizing 2FA, managing privileged accounts, securing sensitive data, generating strong passwords, creating audit logs, and so on.
Step 1: Stop Using RDCMan
If you’re a current RDCMan user, then the advice is clear: stop using it. Yes, you and your team may have been using it for years. But now that this bug has been made public, you can be certain that bad actors are mobilizing and will be specifically targeting this vulnerability. Considering the costs of a data breach (and how furious your boss would be), it’s not worth the risk.
Step 2: Give Remote Desktop Manager a Try!
If you’re looking for a free alternative to RDCMan, then Remote Desktop Manager (RDM) Free could be exactly what you need. RDM Free is designed for individual IT pros, while RDM Enterprise is designed for IT teams (co-located and remote) who need to share remote connections and privileged passwords. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the two solutions. Also, be assured that RDM Free is not nagware, donationware, or trialware. It’s a legitimate, standalone solution for IT pros that is constantly being updated.
Interested in trying RDM, but you don’t want to lose your data? Good news! You can import your sessions from an existing application or an existing file format. You can follow this online help right here.
RDM Enterprise
Switching from RDCMan to Remote Desktop Manager (RDM) Enterprise is a significant upgrade in every area. Here is a helpful chart to help you compare the differences.
For a complete list of features in RDM, please head over here.
Try RDM
We invite you to try RDM Enterprise free for 30 days, and to explore all of its features and functions. Then when your trial period is over, you can either purchase an affordable license (multiple options are available based on your needs), or you can switch over to RDM Free and use it for as long as you wish without paying anything.
Other Alternatives
If RDM (Free or Enterprise) isn’t the alternative to RDCMan that you’re looking for, then we suggest you head to AlternativeTo, where you’ll find profiles and reviews of various remote connection tools.
Looking for Windows 10 remote desktop manager software to remotely access another computer? Here’s free remote desktop connection manager for Windows 10 PC.
There are times when we want to take control of our friend’s computer or remotely access another computer when we are not able to go there physically.
Remote Desktop Connection is a very popular technology developed by the Microsoft using which users can remotely connect to another Windows computer over a network connection. In simple words, Remote Desktop is a separate program or an operating system feature that allows users to connect to a computer in another location and access that computer’s desktop.
Remote Desktop Manager
Let’s say, you are living in India and want to access the computer of your friend who is residing in the United States. The first option which you are having at this point is to book a ticket to the United States, reach your friend’s home and use his computer or you can simply use remote desktop connection manager for the same. The first option is not only going to cost you a lot of money but will also take a toll on your time. In this situation, using the remote computer access feature or remote desktop connection manager software to remotely access another computer is the most appropriate option for you.
In order to use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), you need a remote desktop connection manager which is responsible for all the Remote connections you are making. Remote desktop protocol comes with a very user-friendly interface which makes it very easy for the user to create a remote connection and set up computer for remote access.
You can even use your keyboard, mouse to access all features of the device whose remote connection you are taking. This free remote access feature is available by default in all versions of Windows operating system as RDP is owned by the Microsoft.
If you are having a good remote desktop connection manager software, you can manage multiple remote desktop connections /sessions easily without any difficulty or interruption.
For some peoples, selecting the best remote desktop software for Windows computer is really a very tough task because there are plenty of free remote desktop management software and computer remote software available on the Web. This is the main reason that today we are going to explain about the top 7 best remote desktop connection manager programs which you can use on your Windows 10 computers.
Top 7 Best Free Remote Desktop Connection Manager for Windows 10
This remote desktop software guide is specially created for the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system users. So, if you are looking for the best free Windows 10 remote desktop connection manager or Windows 10 home remote desktop manager software to set up and allow remote connections on the computer you want to connect to then you are at the absolutely right place.
The best remote desktop connection manager software comes not only with the management of multiple remote connections but also allows users to use several other protocols like HTTP, FTP, SSH etc. The interesting thing is, all the remote computer access software mentioned below can be downloaded for free from their official websites. It means, there is no need to spend a single penny on remote desktop connection managers.
So, are you ready to check out the list of best free remote desktop connection manager software to remotely access another computer over the same network or to the Internet? Here we go.
Remote Desktop Connection Manager 2.7
If you want to manage multiple remote desktop connections then using Remote Desktop Connection Manager 2.7 developed by the Microsoft is the best option for you.
RDCMan manages multiple remote desktop connections and it is quite useful for managing server labs or large server farms. This remote desktop manager is not only compatible with Windows 10 operating system but also works pretty well on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 7 etc. However, if you want to use this Windows remote desktop connection tool on Windows XP make sure that you are having the latest version of this tool.
You can download and use Windows Remote Desktop Connection Manager 2.7 for free on your Windows 10 computers. Check out this Remote Desktop Connection tutorial to know in details about allowing remote connections on the computer you want to connect to.
Remote Desktop Manager
Remote Desktop Manager is one of the best remote desktop connection managers which allow you to manage multiple remote sessions which you are taking from your computer. Along with the remote sessions, you can also manage other network protocols using this remote access program like Putty, HTTP, LogMeIn etc.
The user database is encrypted with AES protection which ensures that all the login details are safe from hackers. You can integrate Remote Connection Manager with many services as it comes with Intel AMT, Windows PowerShell support, and an advanced Hyper-V dashboard.
If you are looking for the fastest remote access Windows 10 software which will do a lot more than only managing remote connections then Remote Desktop Manager – remote connection and password management software is the best free remote access tool you need to use.
Terminals
Terminals is a secure remote desktop client and very feature rich software which is compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows XP operating systems. Managing remote connections with Terminals is extremely easy as it is a multi-tab terminal remote access Windows 10 service.
Terminals uses Terminal Services Active client which is a service running on Windows computers. Along with management of Windows remote desktop (RDP) connections, Terminals is a great remote access tool which works well with VNC, VMRC, SSH, Telnet, RAS, ICA Citrix, HTTP and HTTPs based viewers.
If you are into networking then you can take benefit of this tool as it handles protocols like Trace Route, Ping, TCP connections and much more. The open source project is working well from the last few years. Terminals is available both in 32-bit versions and 64-bit versions and as it is an open source remote desktop connection manager software, so you can download and use it for free of cost.
MultiDesk
If you are looking for a tab based remote connection manager then you should MultiDesk terminal services client. The tab structure of this Windows 10 remote desktop software makes management of multiple remote connections very easy. You can manage the remote connections through group or server folder without any difficulty.
One of the best things about MultiDesk is that it is not only free but portable and SSD/flash drive friendly too which means that you don’t have to install it on your computer, simply download it and you are ready to manage multiple remote desktop connections on your Windows 10 computer.
MultiDesk tabbed remote desktop client is perfectly compatible with Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client) 6.0 or higher, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, 2012, 2008, VISTA, 2003, and Windows XP operating system. If you were looking for a very simple and convenient remote desktop service to set up computer for remote access then MultiDesk is the right choice for you.
RD Tabs
The next best free remote desktop connection manager for Windows which makes to our list is RD Tabs. This is another powerful tab based Windows 10 remote desktop tool. RD Tabs – The Ultimate Remote Desktop Client comes with user-friendly interface which makes it easy even for a novice to use it as it is not complex at all.
There are many amazing features available in this remote computer access tool such as advanced editing, connection thumbnails, command line scripting, detached connection Windows support, remote terminal server information, remote desktop screen capture and much more.
We really liked the remote desktop capture feature as it allowed us to capture the screen of the remote sessions which we were taking. If you are looking for easy to use free remote access software which comes with user-friendly interface then you ought to use RD Tabs remote desktop manager. It requires the .Net Framework 2.0. Enjoy free download RD Tabs software to remotely access another computer over the same network.
mRemoteNG
Microsoft Remote Desktop Manager
mRemoteNG (Multi-Remote Next Generation) was earlier known as mRemote and is an open source remote desktop software which allows great remote sessions management which one is taking from his host computer. You can easily take access of multiple protocols as mRemoteNG is a multi-protocol remote desktop software.
RDP (Remote Desktop/Terminal Server), VNC (Virtual Network Computing), ICA (Citrix Independent Computing Architecture), SSH (Secure Shell), Telnet (TELecommunication NETwork), HTTP/HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), rlogin, and Raw Socket Connections etc. are some of the popular protocols supported by the mRemoteNG.
Just like other remote desktop connection manager alternatives and free remote access software, you are going to get a tabbed interface which makes taking remote sessions easy and management a swift task. Download mRemoteNG remote connections manager enjoy a hassle-free remote access Windows 10 computer.
Parallels Remote Application Server
We have reached the end of our remote access software list and Parallels Remote Application server is the multitasking computer remote software which can be used for managing all the remote sessions which you are taking.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) was available for only Windows 7 and Windows 8 and now you can use it on your Windows 10 computers too. Managing remote connections is very simple with this tool as it comes with user-friendly interface, so if you have not used computers a lot, you don’t need to worry.
You can even check the help section of this easy to use, flexible, and secure open source remote support software which is filled with articles and how-to guides of operating this tool with ease. You can download and use Parallels Remote Application Server for free.
Conclusion
Microsoft Remote Desktop Manager For Windows 10
If you are taking multiple remote sessions from your machine it can be really difficult to manage them. Management of multiple remote connection sessions is very easy with these best free remote desktop connection manager for Windows 10 PC. All the Windows 10 remote desktop managers which we have shared in this guide work pretty well and as they are available for free so anyone can use them.
We have been using Remote Desktop connection Manager 2.7 from a while now and personally find it best, but hey choices differ from person to person so it is normal that you go with any other free remote access software.
Which remote desktop manager or remote computer access software are you using on your Windows 10 computer for managing all the remote sessions? Did we miss to mention any popular and best remote desktop connection managers? Let us know using the comments section below.
You may also be interested in checking out these Windows 10 Software guides: