Establishing a Remote Connection

Overview

When a user starts Task Administrator, Automate Desktop's default behavior is to establish a TCP/IP connection with the Automate Desktop task service (AMTS.exe) that resides locally. You also have Remote Administration capabilities. In this case, Automate Desktop establishes a TCP/IP connection to a remote computer running the Automate Desktop task service, such as a Runtime component.

For security purposes, Remote Administration is disabled by default. Each Automate Desktop client that will be remotely accessed must be preconfigured to allow Remote Administration and have a security password set for authentication. Since Automate Desktop Runtime components are background applications that don't contain a user interface, a password must be defined during initial setup. Automate Desktop bidirectional connections are supported for those organizations that require more than one installation to accommodate multiple task developers. This type of connection requires Remote Administration to be enabled and a security password to be defined on each client that will host a connection. To access Remote Administration settings, go to Options > System Settings > Remote Administration.

Related Topics

To Establish a Connection with a Remote Automate Desktop Client

  1. In the Current Connection box, enter the computer name (for example, tarzan@fortra.com) or IP address (for example, xxx.xxx.x.x) of the host computer containing the Automate Desktop installation (or Runtime) you want to connect to.

  2. Click the Connect link.

  3. In the connection dialog that appears, do the following:

    • Enter a valid password in the Password field with which to authenticate the connection.

    • If you want the computer name/IP address and password to be saved internally so it does not require re-entry during future connections, enable the Remember my connection check-box.

  1. Click OK to complete the connection.

Once connection is successful, the Task Administrator comes populated with the remote client's tasks and folders (if any). A new computer icon corresponding to the remote connection will appear in the side panel and folders that are present on the remote computer will appear directly under the computer icon. The Task Administrator's title bar always displays the computer name or IP address of the remote computer it is currently connected to (as shown below). If connected to the local computer, the title bar displays localhost. Switching back and forth from the local computer to various remote clients can be accomplished by simply clicking a computer or folder icon in the side panel. There is no limit to the number of remote Automate Desktop clients a single Task Administrator can connect to.

NOTE: Each Automate Desktop license allows up to 10 established connections (including Localhost)