Windows 7 RDP disconnect in Windows 7 seems to be Firewall related

[Martin Spencer]

Hi,
I have some users who RDP to their desktops from their home PC's (CISCO VPN Client connects first) to work out of hours and also connect to their desktops whilst in meetings etc (from within the corporate network). When we were on XP this worked flawlessly with users staying connected as long as they needed to.
Now that we have implemented Windows 7 and a Firewall policy it seems that they can only get 4 hours at the most but can disconnect within 5 minutes. If you turn off the Windows 7 Firewall it works fine again. There seems to be nothing really in the policy that would seem to cause this. RDP is definitely allowed.
If anyone can think of something it would be most appreciated.
Regards,
Marty

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're facing a specific issue with users connecting via RDP to their desktops from both home PCs and within the corporate network, especially after upgrading to Windows 7 and implementing a Firewall policy. The problem you're encountering is related to a time limit on RDP connections, where users can only stay connected for up to 4 hours or disconnect within 5 minutes, and disabling the Windows 7 Firewall resolves the issue. Here are a few steps and considerations to help you troubleshoot and potentially resolve this problem: 1. RDP Timeout Settings: Check if there are any specific RDP timeout settings configured on either the client or server side that could be limiting the connection duration. 2. Firewall Configuration: - Firewall Rules: Review the Firewall rules in place for both the client-side and server-side to ensure that they allow RDP traffic (port 3389 by default). - Firewall Log: Check the Firewall logs for any specific entries that might indicate why the connection is being limited or dropped. 3. Windows 7 Firewall Settings: - Advanced Firewall Settings: Within the Windows 7 Firewall settings, ensure that the rules for RDP are correctly configured without any conflicting rules that might impact the connection duration. - Inbound/Outbound Rules: Verify that both inbound and outbound rules for RDP are properly configured. 4. Group Policy: Check if there are any Group Policy settings that might be enforcing a time limit on RDP connections or interfering with the connection stability. 5. Event Logs: - Event Viewer: Look into the Event Viewer logs on the client and server machines for any related events that might shed light on the connection issues. - Security Events: Check the Security Events related to network connections or Firewall settings. 6. Network Configuration: - Network Load Balancing: If applicable, ensure that network load balancing or other network configurations are not affecting the RDP connections. - DHCP Lease: Verify that DHCP lease durations are not impacting the connection stability. 7. VPN Client and Connectivity: - CISCO VPN Client: Ensure that the CISCO VPN Client settings are not conflicting with the RDP connections. - VPN Logs: Check the VPN client logs for any errors or warnings related to the RDP connections. By systematically checking these areas and configurations, you should be able to pinpoint the issue causing the time limit on RDP connections after implementing Windows 7 and the Firewall policy. If you need further assistance or encounter specific errors in your investigation, feel free to provide more details for a more targeted solution.