Hello, Dev. Are you struggling with managing remote desktop connections on your Windows Server 2008? In this journal article, we will guide you through the Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration tool and show you how to configure your server to enable remote desktop connections.
What is Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration?
The Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration tool (RD Session Host Config) is a Windows Server 2008 feature that allows you to manage and configure remote desktop connections to your server. It enables administrators to control who can access the server remotely, what authentication methods are used, and how the remote desktop experience is presented to users.
If you want to give your users the ability to work on the server remotely, you need to configure RD Session Host according to your needs. Let’s start by examining the basic components of RD Session Host Config.
RD Session Host Servers
RD Session Host servers are the servers that host remote desktop sessions. When a user connects to a server using remote desktop, they are connected to an RD Session Host server. These servers can be managed through the RD Session Host Configuration tool.
Session Collections
A session collection is a group of RD Session Host servers that provide the same applications and desktops to users. When a user connects to a session collection, they are presented with a list of available applications and desktops to choose from. You can create multiple collections for different user groups or application sets.
Connection Broker
The connection broker is a component of RD Session Host that helps users find and connect to the appropriate RD Session Host server. It can balance the load across multiple servers and provide redundancy in case of server failure.
RemoteApp Programs
RemoteApp programs are individual applications that can be published to users as if they were running locally on their computers. When a user launches a RemoteApp program, it runs on the server but appears on the user’s desktop as if it were a local application.
Configuring Remote Desktop Session Host
Now that you understand the basic components of RD Session Host Config, let’s dive into the configuration process. The following steps will guide you through the process of configuring remote desktop connections on your Windows Server 2008.
Step 1: Install the Remote Desktop Session Host Role
The first step in configuring RD Session Host is to install the Remote Desktop Session Host role on your server. Here’s how:
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
1 |
Open Server Manager. |
2 |
Click on Roles in the left-hand pane. |
3 |
Click Add Roles in the right-hand pane to start the Add Roles Wizard. |
4 |
Select Remote Desktop Services as the role to install. |
5 |
Select Remote Desktop Session Host as the role service to install. |
6 |
Complete the wizard and wait for the installation to finish. |
Step 2: Configure Remote Desktop Session Host
Once you have installed the Remote Desktop Session Host role, you need to configure it using the RD Session Host Configuration tool. Here’s how:
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
1 |
Open the RD Session Host Configuration tool. |
2 |
Select the properties of your server from the left-hand pane. |
3 |
Configure the following settings: |
– Network Adapter: select the network adapter that will be used for remote desktop connections. |
|
– Security Layer: select the security layer to be used for remote desktop connections (SSL, Negotiate, or RDP Security Layer). |
|
– Encryption Level: select the encryption level to be used for remote desktop connections (Client Compatible, High, or FIPS Compliant). |
|
– Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure): enable or disable this option depending on your security needs. |
|
4 |
Click OK to save the changes. |
Step 3: Configure Session Collections
After configuring your RD Session Host server, you need to create session collections to group the servers according to their purpose. Here’s how:
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
1 |
Open the RD Session Host Configuration tool. |
2 |
Create a new session collection by right-clicking Session Collections in the left-hand pane and selecting Create Session Collection. |
3 |
Follow the wizard to configure the session collection settings, including the following: |
– Collection Name: give the collection a descriptive name. |
|
– RemoteApp Programs: select the RemoteApp programs to be published to users. |
|
– RD Session Host Servers: select the servers to be included in the session collection. |
|
4 |
Click Finish to create the session collection. |
Step 4: Configure the Connection Broker
Finally, you need to configure the connection broker to manage the remote desktop connections. Here’s how:
Step |
Description |
|---|---|
1 |
Open the Server Manager. |
2 |
Click on Roles in the left-hand pane. |
3 |
Click on Remote Desktop Services in the right-hand pane. |
4 |
Click on Remote Desktop Connection Broker in the right-hand pane. |
5 |
Follow the wizard to configure the connection broker settings, including the following: |
– Deployment Scenario: select the deployment scenario that fits your needs (Session-based desktop deployment or Virtual desktop deployment). |
|
– RD Connection Broker Server: select the server that will act as the connection broker. |
|
– RD Session Host Servers: select the servers that will host the remote desktop sessions. |
|
6 |
Click OK to save the changes. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do I enable remote desktop connections on Windows Server 2008?
A: You need to install the Remote Desktop Session Host role and configure it using the RD Session Host Configuration tool. Follow the steps outlined in this article to set up the remote desktop connections.
Q: How do I create a session collection?
A: You can create a session collection by using the RD Session Host Configuration tool. See the “Configure Session Collections” section in this article for detailed instructions.
Q: How do I publish RemoteApp programs?
A: You can publish RemoteApp programs by selecting them in the RD Session Host Configuration tool when creating a session collection. See the “Configure Session Collections” section in this article for detailed instructions.
Q: What is the connection broker?
A: The connection broker is a component of RD Session Host that helps users find and connect to the appropriate RD Session Host server. It can balance the load across multiple servers and provide redundancy in case of server failure. See the “Configure the Connection Broker” section in this article for detailed instructions on how to configure it.
Q: How can I ensure the security of my remote desktop connections?
A: You can ensure the security of your remote desktop connections by configuring the appropriate security layers and encryption levels in the RD Session Host Configuration tool. See the “Configure Remote Desktop Session Host” section in this article for detailed instructions.
Q: Can I use the Remote Desktop Session Host tool on Windows Server 2016?
A: Yes, the Remote Desktop Session Host tool is available on Windows Server 2016, but the configuration process may differ slightly from the one described in this article.
Conclusion
Configuring remote desktop connections on your Windows Server 2008 can be a daunting task, but with the Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration tool, it’s much easier to manage. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can configure remote desktop sessions, create session collections, and ensure the security of your connections. If you encounter any issues during the configuration process, consult the FAQ section or seek help from Microsoft support.