RemoteAPP deployment On Windows Server2008 R2

RemoteAPP allows you to deploy applications using terminal services.

The setup for this demo:

DC

Hostname:0sirus

IP:192.168.0.105

Domain: bitmindframes.local

TS-server

Hostname:Beast

IP:192.168.0.106

Domain: bitmindframes.local

Client

Hostname:wks1

IP:192.168.0.107

Domain:bitmindframes.local

Install Active Directory and join both the Terminal Server and Client workstation(s)  to the domain.

Check network connectivity before proceeding.

Terminal Server Setup

Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services as it is now called in Server 2008 R2 can be added from the Server Roles Menu.

Server2008 R2 allows NLA (Network Level Authentication) if the client supports it.

I will choose no NLA .

Next you can set Client Experience settings, Audio or Video Playback and AERO.

Selecting these will install the desktop experience feature.

IIS is installed as part of  Remote Desktop Services

You can configure and customize IIS7.0 if needed.

Confirm your settings are correct and note the path to RDweb.

http://TShostname/RDWeb

After Installation and Rebooting I will install Office 2007 on the Terminal Server Machine.

This will give us some “Microsoft” applications to work with and test.

After Installation You can Open up the Terminal Services Manager console and view the settings.

Configuring RemoteAPP

Open up the RemoteAPP management console and click Add RemoteAPP program.

Select the applications you would like to be available to Remote Users.

I Selected Powerpoint, Publisher and Word.

The Path and settings will be shown in the confirmation screen.

Creating .RDP files

Select create .rdp file from the right pane to start the wizard

You can customize the save location of the .rdp files Terminal Server to connect to and if you want to connect to a remote desktop Gateway server.

Creating a .MSI package

Select the Create .MSI package from the right pane to start the wizard.

Select the Location to save to .msi files and Terminal Server settings.

Set what icons and shortcuts for the apllications will be installed.

Client extension setting allows the client to open and recognize the Terminal Server hosted applications extension type.

Launching RemoteAPP from the client side

From the windows 7 machine wks1 we will access the shared path where the .rdp and .msi packages are stored and copy them over to the local drive.

With .rdp files you simply need to double click on the .rdp file to open up remote desktop.

Remote Desktop will ask for authentication credentials to start the remote desktop session.

Remote Desktop will start the session.

Clicking on Details will show you the process of logging into the Terminal Server.

Microsoft ACCESS can now be used remotely from the Terminal Server machine.

The same method is used with the .MSI files with the difference that .msi packages are installed.

Using Remote Desktop Web Access

During the initial setup of remote desktop services a URL to RDweb was created.

it is usually:

http://TShostname/RDWeb

Navigate to the URL in IE and you will see the RDWeb login page.

When we set up the .rdp and .msi files for remoteapp there was an option to enable web access for each apllication added to remoteapp.

Setting this option to yes will allow you to use the same Applications through the web interface.

Clicking on the application icon will launch the remote session similar to connecting to remote desktop.

You can select the resources you want the session to have access to.

Powerpoint will open in a remote window and give the end user the look and feel of a locally installed application.

Closing the window will end the remote session.

Using RDP through RDWeb

Remote Desktop session can be started from the RDWeb link.

Clicking the Options button will give you a wide range of settings from resources available to desktop window size.

When you connect you will see the remote desktop window open and ask if you want to allow remote access to clipboard or Printers.

Once connected i can browse the Terminal Server desktop as if i was sitting in front of it.

The window size you set in the options will determine the size of your Remote sessions window.

Managing the Remote Desktop Serices

You can manage the remote desktop services through a number of consoles.

RemoteAPP manager will allow you to set your remote apllications.

Remote Desktop Services Manager will allow you to monitor connections and send messages to the clients if needed.

Tags: ip, router, interface, 802.1q, vtp, guides