Windows Server 2016 Configure Remote Desktop Session Host

Hello Dev, welcome to our article about configuring Remote Desktop Session Host on Windows Server 2016. In this article, we will guide you step-by-step on how to set up and configure Remote Desktop Session Host to enable secure and streamlined access to your remote desktops. Let’s get started!

Understanding Remote Desktop Session Host

Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) is a Windows Server feature that allows multiple users to access desktop sessions on a single server. This feature enables users to run and access applications and resources from a remote server while maintaining a secure and controlled centralized environment.

When you install RDSH on a Windows Server 2016, it creates a virtual desktop infrastructure that can be accessed by users from various devices, such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices. With RDSH, users can connect to the remote desktop session host server from anywhere in the world, allowing them to work remotely and collaborate with colleagues.

Benefits of Remote Desktop Session Host

Remote Desktop Session Host offers many benefits for organizations, including:

Configuring Remote Desktop Session Host

Now that we understand the benefits of Remote Desktop Session Host, let’s dive into the steps for configuring it on a Windows Server 2016.

Step 1: Install Remote Desktop Session Host Role

The first step in configuring Remote Desktop Session Host is to install the role on your Windows Server 2016. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Open Server Manager on your Windows Server 2016.
2. Click on Add Roles and Features.
3. Click Next until you get to the Server Roles page.
4. Select Remote Desktop Services and click Next.
5. Select Remote Desktop Session Host and click Next.
6. Click Next until you reach the Confirmation page.
7. Click Install to begin the installation process.

Once the installation is complete, you will need to configure the Remote Desktop Session Host settings.

Step 2: Configure Remote Desktop Session Host Settings

To configure the Remote Desktop Session Host settings, follow these steps:

1. Open the Server Manager on your Windows Server 2016.
2. Click on Remote Desktop Services.
3. Click on Collections.
4. Click on Tasks and select Edit Deployment Properties.

In the Edit Deployment Properties dialog box, you can configure the following settings:

Deployment Settings

The Deployment Settings section allows you to configure the deployment scenario for Remote Desktop Services. Here, you can choose between a standard deployment or a quick start deployment.

Certificates

The Certificates section allows you to configure the SSL certificates for the Remote Desktop Session Host. Here, you can install or renew your SSL certificates for secure communication between the remote desktop client and the server.

Licensing

The Licensing section allows you to configure your Remote Desktop Services licenses. Here, you can install, activate, and manage your licenses for remote desktop sessions.

User Profile Disks

The User Profile Disks section allows you to configure user profile disks for Remote Desktop Services. Here, you can create and configure user profile disks to save user settings and data for future use.

RemoteFX

The RemoteFX section allows you to configure remote graphics for Remote Desktop Services. Here, you can enable or disable RemoteFX settings for improved graphics performance on remote desktops.

Step 3: Create Remote Desktop Session Host Collections

The next step in configuring Remote Desktop Session Host is to create collections. A collection is a group of remote desktops that users can connect to. Here’s how to create a collection:

1. Open the Server Manager on your Windows Server 2016.
2. Click on Remote Desktop Services.
3. Click on Collections.
4. Click on Tasks and select Create Session Collection.
5. Follow the prompts to create your session collection.

Once you have created your session collection, you can add remote desktops to it.

Step 4: Add Remote Desktops to Session Collection

To add remote desktops to your session collection, follow these steps:

1. Open the Server Manager on your Windows Server 2016.
2. Click on Remote Desktop Services.
3. Click on Collections.
4. Select your session collection.
5. Click on Tasks and select Add Remote Desktop Session Host Servers.
6. Select the servers that you want to add to your session collection and click on OK.

Once you have added your remote desktop servers to your session collection, you can configure user access and permissions.

Configuring User Access and Permissions

After you have created your remote desktop session collection, you can set up user access and permissions. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Configure Remote Desktop Session Host Security Group

The first step is to configure the Remote Desktop Session Host security group. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Server Manager on your Windows Server 2016.
2. Click on Tools and select Active Directory Users and Computers.
3. Right-click on the domain and select Properties.
4. Select the Group Policy tab and click on Edit.
5. In the Group Policy Management Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration → Policies → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Local Policies → User Rights Assignment.
6. Double-click on Allow logon through Remote Desktop Services.
7. Add the Remote Desktop Users group to the list of users who are allowed to log on through Remote Desktop Services.

Step 2: Configure Remote Desktop Users Group

The next step is to configure the Remote Desktop Users group. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Server Manager on your Windows Server 2016.
2. Click on Tools and select Active Directory Users and Computers.
3. Right-click on the domain and select New → Group.
4. Name the group Remote Desktop Users.
5. Click on OK.
6. Double-click on the Remote Desktop Users group and add the users who should have access to the remote desktop sessions.

Step 3: Configure Remote Desktop Session Host Settings

The last step is to configure the Remote Desktop Session Host settings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Server Manager on your Windows Server 2016.
2. Click on Remote Desktop Services.
3. Click on Collections.
4. Select your session collection.
5. Click on Tasks and select Edit Properties.
6. Click on Security and configure the required security settings.

FAQs

Q. What is Remote Desktop Services?

A. Remote Desktop Services is a Windows Server feature that allows multiple users to access desktop sessions on a single server.

Q. What is Remote Desktop Session Host?

A. Remote Desktop Session Host is a Windows Server feature that enables users to run and access applications and resources from a remote server while maintaining a secure and controlled centralized environment.

Q. What are the benefits of Remote Desktop Session Host?

A. Remote Desktop Session Host offers many benefits for organizations, including cost savings, increased productivity, and enhanced security.

Q. How do I configure Remote Desktop Session Host on a Windows Server 2016?

A. To configure Remote Desktop Session Host on a Windows Server 2016, follow these steps:

1. Install Remote Desktop Session Host Role.
2. Configure Remote Desktop Session Host settings.
3. Create Remote Desktop Session Host collections.
4. Add remote desktops to session collection.
5. Configure user access and permissions.

Q. How do I configure user access and permissions on Remote Desktop Session Host?

A. To configure user access and permissions on Remote Desktop Session Host, follow these steps:

1. Configure Remote Desktop Session Host security group.
2. Configure Remote Desktop Users group.
3. Configure Remote Desktop Session Host settings.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You have successfully learned how to configure Remote Desktop Session Host on a Windows Server 2016. We hope that this article has been helpful for you in setting up your remote desktop environment. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.