Remote Desktop - Alternative?

After installing some updates on a remote Windows Server 2003 box and restarting, we are no longer able to Remote Desktop to that box ("This computer can't connect to the remote computer"). The web sites on the server are running fine, and everything else seems to be running fine as well (SMTP, FTP). This box is being hosted, so I have to have a (hosting company) engineer go over to physically check things out - that's a little awkward (and I'm sure my boss doesn't want to see the bill).

I guess relying only on RDC wasn't the most business continuity-proof idea, so my question is this: do you have an alternative to RDC in case you can't RDC? I'm considering installing LogMeIn (as soon as I can connect to it again, that is :s), but wanted to check here first :)

Check the firewall and the Remote settings in My Computer>Properties>Remote.

There is an update that sometimes knocked this back to default.

MLF

Was that a warm or a cold restart? I have known LogMeIn require a cold reboot before it would work again, so it isn't bulletproof either.

Nothing changed on the router????

There is an internet connection wizard that comes with 2003 SBS that sometimes needs to be rerun after updates.

MLF

It looks like the Remote Administration service was hanging - the remote tech restarted it and we're back up and running again.

Nihil > warm. I think I'm going to install LogMeIn - I hope it won't require a cold reboot :s

I have only come across that once, and the client in question has been using LogMeIn for some time now.

:)

Thanks, both :) I have installed LogMeIn, and it's working just fine (without a reboot) - I've previously had it hang on me a few times during installation (when it says "Your screen may go blank" or whatever), requiring a reboot... not this time, luckily :)

If it happens again and there is nobody physically available in the data center, try connecting to the server from another server via Terminal Svcs Manager and reset/logoff any disconnected sessions. That has worked for me in the past when I was unable to TSC directly to the box.

Look into realvnc, it's cheap efficient and if configured properly secured.
It's also much faster then rdp.

We use a program called GoverLan. I am not sure how much it costs, as it was already in use when I started. I have been very pleased with it though.