Built for Rock'n'Roll (i was)

RDP

    RDP stands for Remote Desktop Protocol. It is a proprietary protocol built by Microsoft to let users to graphically control remote computer.
    RDP logs in a remote user to the server computer by effectively creating a real desktop session on the server computer including a user profile.
    RDP works in the same way as if the user had logged in to the physical server directly.
    RDP can support multiple remote users logged in to the same server that completely unaware of each other.


VNC

    VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing. It is an open platform independent graphical desktop sharing system designed to remotely control another computer.
    VNC follows the older model of simply showing whatever is on the screen with no forced logins required.
    VNC connects a remote user to the computer itself by sharing its screen, keyboard and mouse.
    Consequently, when several users (including the one operating the real physical monitor and keyboard) connect to the same server they see the same thing and they type on the same keyboard.
    VNC has security implications; if you remote into a machine that an Administrator is logged into, you'll effectively be an Administrator. And if you're both trying to use the computer at the same time, it's even more fun!


Similarities between both

    Both RDP and VNC technologies require client side and server side software to support communication protocol.
    Both technologies use direct peer-to-peer communication. It means that the local user computer directly connects to the remote computer
    Both can't handle multiple monitors in any way; you'll only see the primary monitor (but there are ways to see all monitors using other tools)