rdp: ERROR: recv: Connection reset by peer

Strangely, the RDP (rdesktop) sessions to my Windows Servers were timing out within five minutes. I'd get an error like this:
Autoselected keyboard map en-us
ERROR: recv: Connection reset by peer

The Terminal Services Configuation on the destination server were set to timeout after an hour. So something was definetly amiss. Even more weird, when I exited GNOME and logged onto Enlightenment, the problem went away. So that meant the problem was with my window environment. Reading up here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=398447

To fix the problem, one guy had to change his keyboard in GNOME:


I changed my keyboard from Unknown to Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro, restarted GNOME and voila..problem gone!

I love it when a plan comes together!
TAG

right-mouse click for XP/Vista on MacBook / Remote Desktop for Mac

As I run both XP, Vista and Fedora in VMware Fusion on my MacBook Pro 17", I was struggling with the fact that since the MacBook only has one button below the trackpad, I did not have access to a right mouse button to get the contextual help and properties menus in XP and Fedora.

Well, if I had looked longer and harder in the System Preferences -> Keyboard and Mouse -> Trackpad properties of my MacBook, I would have found an obscure option called "Place two fingers on trackpad and click button for secondary click."


This option is an advanced finger technique applied to the trackpad. To enable your context-sensitive right-mouse click, just stick two fingers on the trackpad and click an object in XP or Fedora. Voila! You should see your right-mouse option menu appear! Sweet!


Enabling this option allowed me to do everything I needed to do in XP and Fedora, as well as in Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) for Mac:
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/otherproducts/otherproducts.aspx?pid=remotedesktopclient

Nice!

One caveat, though, is that apparently, this option is not available in MacBook 15" models. I don't know why this is, but if I have time, I will find out.

Finally, I learned about three additional key combinations while editing this post. First was using Function (fn) key in combination with the directional keys in the lower right corner of my MacBooks' keyboard. The Function (fn) key is in the lower left hand corner of the corner. The directional keys on the opposite site of the keyboard are PageUp PageDown, Home and End.

Secondly, Fn-delete works as a normal delete key within a Windows session when using Mac RDC. Finally, press the Mac delete key alone to function as a backspace in a Windows RDC session.

Both of these keystrokes are very useful and available cross-platform when you use the freely available Remote Desktop Connection from Microsoft.

7/30/07 Update: I put a more definitive list of keyboard shortcuts and key symbol names here for your enjoyment:
/2007/07/macbook-pro-keyboard-shorcuts-and.html

Here is the most awesome list of key bindings for the mac:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343

cheers!
'sodo