Workbench is a browser-based remote connection tool provided by Alibaba Cloud. You can use it to connect to a Windows instance over a private network.
Prerequisites
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The instance must be in the Running state and its Health Status must be Normal.
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If you use a RAM user to connect with Workbench, that user must be granted the required permissions.
Procedure
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Log on to the ECS console. At the top of the page, select a resource group and a region.
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After you find the target instance, click Connect. In the dialog box, click Sign in now for Workbench.
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On the Instance Login page of Workbench, configure the following parameters and click Log In.
Parameter
Description
Instance
Information about the current instance is automatically populated.
Connection Method
Select Terminal. This method connects to the instance using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
Authentication
Password Authentication.
User Name
The default username for a Windows instance is Administrator.
Password
If you have not set a password or have forgotten the password, you must first reset it.
To avoid entering the username and password every time you log on, you can save the credential for future use.
RDP Port (Optional)
The default port for RDP connections is 3389. On the Instance Login page, you can click .
After you click Log In, you may be prompted to add a security group rule. This rule is required to allow traffic from the Workbench IP address range to access the instance's RDP port, which is 3389 by default. Click Add Now to quickly configure the rule. The specific security group rule configured in the console prevails.
A Workbench remote connection session can last for a maximum of 6 hours. If a session is idle for more than 6 hours, Workbench automatically disconnects it, and you must reconnect.
FAQ
How do I save a logon credential?
To avoid entering your username and password every time you log on, you can save them as a credential for future use.
This credential is not shared, and only the user who created it can use it to log on to the instance.
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Save a logon credential
When you log on to the instance, select the Save logon credential check box. After you successfully log on, the credential is saved.
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Log on with a credential
When you log in to an instance and set a username, you can use the Use Credential option to log in with saved credentials.
How Workbench connects over a private network
When Workbench connects to an instance using a private IP, a reverse access rule is automatically created in the instance's VPC. This establishes a secure, bidirectional communication channel. You can view or manage this rule on the 
> Private Links tab.
Default Windows instance username
The default username for a Windows instance is Administrator.
Initial instance password
An instance does not have an initial password. To set a password, you can reset the password.
Troubleshoot remote connection failures
If you cannot remotely connect to an instance, first, use the self-service diagnostic tool to troubleshoot the issue. You can also perform a manual check based on the instructions in Troubleshoot connection issues for a Windows instance.
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Click to open the Diagnostics page and select the target region.
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Under Instance Cannot Connect, click Start Diagnosis. Follow the on-screen instructions to select the instance that has issues and click Start Diagnosis.
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After the diagnosis is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the issue.