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RDP Using rdesktop

Since switching to Ubuntu, I've been using the Terminal Services Client program (Applications->Internet->Terminal Services Client) to connect to my work VM which is hosted on a VMware ESX 3.5 u3 server. I used that VM prior to upgrading to Ubuntu (yes, it is an upgrade) and essentially used my laptop, as far as work was concerned, as a thin client.

One thing that always annoyed me was that the "full screen" option was just that - complete and total full screen! Ubuntu was washed completely from view and I was stuck in the land of dual-monitored ultra-Windows. If I hadn't installed an app on my remote VM called MaxTo, I would have had serious problems effectively using both monitors (hitting maximize would expand the windows to fill the entire desktop area of both monitors). However, at least with MaxTo installed, I could get my work done.

Even so, I still found hitting CTRL-ALT-ENTER each time I wanted to go back to my real desktop a bit annoying. I mean, in Windows, i had the option of defaulting to one monitor or using a switch to fill both montiors as was happening now (I can't remember that switch for windows but I'm sure I could find it if anyone is interested).

So, as usual, I turned to Google and the extensive Ubuntu forums. For just about everything I've investigated in Linux, there's an easier way to do something than in Windows. Turns out, I'd been using the easiest of easiest ways to connect (the GUI app) but the command line version had all kinds of goodies I could use! I quickly discovered how to create a new launcher with all my command line needs using:
man rdesktop
Here's my resulting launcher command line:
rdesktop -u kkeyser -d VMWAREM -x m -D -P -z -a 16 -g 1600x1200 -r clipboard:PRIMARYCLIPBOARD -r sound:remote 10.114.24.118
The only problem I've had is that I can't seem to get it as fast as connecting using the default rdesktop settings found through the GUI. There must be a switch I'm missing...

UPDATE: The switch I was missing was -b. Adding that to the command produced blazing fast RDP sessions with exactly what I needed! Give it a shot!

If anyone has any tips on getting the remote connection faster, I'd be happy to have the input!

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