In a Remote Desktop session, all environment variables-for example, variables determining color depth and wallpaper enabling and disabling-are determined by the RCP-Tcp connection settings. On the server, RDP uses its own keyboard and mouse driver to receive these keyboard and mouse events. For the input path, client mouse and keyboard events are redirected from the client to the server. On the client, RDP receives rendering data and interprets the packets into corresponding Microsoft Windows graphics device interface (GDI) API calls. On the server, RDP uses its own video driver to render display output by constructing the rendering information into network packets by using RDP protocol and sending them over the network to the client. RDP provides an extensible base and supports up to 64,000 separate channels for data transmission and provisions for multipoint transmission. RDP is a multiple-channel capable protocol that allows for separate virtual channels for carrying device communication and presentation data from the server, as well as encrypted client mouse and keyboard data.

RDP is based on, and an extension of, the ITU T.120 family of protocols. If you are looking for IT professional information for Remote Desktop, see Remote Desktop Services on TechNet. If you are looking for user information for Remote Desktop, see Windows Support.

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