• Setup Router
• Setup Windows XP Firewall
• Can I change the default port 3389 used for Windows XP Remote Desktop?

Because there are so many different routers out there, I can't go through the exact procedure to follow to setup port forwarding. The original manual that came with your router (or downloaded from the company webiste) will be able to walk you through connecting to your router's home page and with the needed actions below.

1. If you are using DHCP from your router then you are going to want to create a reserved IP address that is mapped to the MAC address of the nic card in the machine that is going to be remotely accessed.

2. Once that is completed then you are going to need to setup port forwarding to that reserved IP address.

Forward port 22 for ssh tunnelling
Forward port 5900 for direct connection to a vnc server
Forward port 3389 for direct connection to remote desktop

Step-By-Step Instructions on setting up Port Forwarding on many different routers.

got feedback? got feedback?

Any feedback you provide is sent to the owner of this FAQ for possible incorporation and shown publically as well.

by dpierce
last modified: 2005-03-18 04:45:37

Setup Windows XP Firewall

To setup the Windows XP SP2 firewall to allow connection of Remote Desktop, SSH connection to cygwin or openssh, or direct connection to the vnc server here is what you must do:

To open Windows Firewall

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. In the control panel, click Windows Security Center.
3. Click Windows Firewall.

Once open

1. Make sure that the "Don't allow exceptions" is NOT checked and then click on the Exceptions tab



2a. On the exceptions screen if you want to allow remote desktop click on the remote desktop checkbox and press ok.

2b. If you are going to be connecting through the secure ssh connection to remote desktop or the vnc server then you want to click on the "Add Port" button and put in port 22.

2c. If you are going to be connecting directly to the vnc server without the ssh tunneling then you need to select "Add Port" button and put in port 5900.





got feedback? got feedback?

Any feedback you provide is sent to the owner of this FAQ for possible incorporation and shown publically as well.

by dpierce
last modified: 2006-04-08 14:55:34

Can I change the default port 3389 used for Windows XP Remote Desktop?

Yes! Microsoft has instructions located here.

Some ISP's or firewalls may block the default port 3389, and changing the port may be a successful workaround.

Basic Summary Below:
Run regedit


Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\PortNumber


Modify the decimal value of the portnumber and reboot the computer.


When connecting to this computer with a different port number you will need to manually specify the port. If you are going through a SSL tunnel instead of localhost:3389 you would use localhost:portnumber. If connecting using Remote Desktop directly you would connect as yourhomeip:portnumber. (»support.microsoft.com/kb/304304/)

got feedback? got feedback?

Any feedback you provide is sent to the owner of this FAQ for possible incorporation and shown publically as well.

by MacGyver edited by dpierce
last modified: 2006-04-08 14:55:18