Is there an updated Remote Desktop Connection client for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP that allows access to new features when connecting to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista systems?

A. An RDP 6.0 client is available from Microsoft for Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003 SP1 or later clients. The links are as follows:

• Windows 2003 32-bit
• Windows 2003 64-bit
• Windows XP 32-bit
• Windows XP 64-bit

The new client adds support for the following:

• Server authentication, which verifies connectivity to the correct server
• Resource redirection for plug and play devices
• Terminal Services Gateway server support, which opens up RDP over HTTPS, avoiding the need to open up holes in the firewall to the Internet
• Terminal Services Remote Programs support, which lets you execute programs running on a terminal server without having to run a complete Windows session
• Monitor spanning, allowing the use of multiple monitors up to a resolution of 4096x2048
• 32-bit color and font smoothing