[rdesktop-users] Extended keyboard/numeric keypad issues with rdesktop and Virtualbox

[Alain R. <al...@sp...>]

I recently encountered a keyboard issue while accessing a VirtualBox VM 
via RDP and an rdesktop session.

Environment:

Host: OpenSUSE 12.3 (classroom computers)
rdesktop 1.8.2 (updated from 1.7.1) OpenSUSE 12.3 Factory repository
Server: OpenSUSE 12.3 running VirtualBox and several VMs
VirtualBox: v4.3.14 r95030, obtained from Oracle's VirtualBox repository
VirtualBox Extension Pack: v4.3.14-95030, obtained from Oracle's 
VirtualBox repository
Guests:

  * CentOS 6.5
  * Windows 7

Issue:

Using rdesktop, either version listed above, to connect to either 
VirtualBox RDP VM from an OpenSUSE remote host, the numeric keypad 
malfunctions.  This is consistent across multiple hosts (classroom), 
connecting to the same or different VM's.
Keyboard map en-us is autoselected.
Using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection on a Windows host to access 
the same VM's, the extended keyboard and numeric keypad functions 
normally.  The problem was first observed when trying to enter data or 
formulas in Excel spreadsheets in the Windows 7 VM. Using the numeric 
keypad produced undesirable results.

Reproduceable:
After connecting to the VM, in the guest, open a Notepad (Windows) or 
gedit (CentOS).
Type numbers from the numeric keypad.  On a new line, the first 
character typed does not display and the cursor remains in position 1.  
The second character typed displays and the cursor moved right one 
position (as normally should).  Backspace back to character position 1, 
or press "enter" for a new line and repeat with the same results.  
Depending on the character typed in position 1, the cursor may move up 
(typing 8), down (typing 2), etc.  Pressing the "Home" key produces a 
"7" on the first keystroke, and behaves normally thereafter.

While re-reading the man page for rdesktop, I became intrigued by an 
option previously overlooked, the -N option, "Enable numlock 
synchronization".  By including this option on the command line the 
extended keyboard and numeric keypad functions properly.

My questions are, is the -N option a workaround to a keyboard mapping 
issue?  Is there an issue?  Also, I would like to use tsclient to save 
and recall my session configurations.  How can I include the -N option 
in a saved session?  (Sorry, I recognize that tsclient is not part of 
your project.  I'm hoping your expertise may lead me in the right 
direction.)

-- 
Alain Rochon