Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

Terminal Services made it possible to remotely run an application in one location but have it controlled and managed in another. Microsoft has evolved this concept considerably in Windows Server 2008 R2, and renamed Terminal Services to Remote Desktop Services (RDS).

This type of virtualisation provided by Remote Desktop Services’ RemoteApp virtualises a processing environment and isolates the processing from the graphics and I/O, making it possible to run an application in one location but have it be controlled in another.  The goal of RDS is to provide both users and administrators with both the features and the flexibility necessary to build the most robust access experience in any deployment scenario.

Improved User Experience

For both VDI and traditional remote desktop services the quality of user experience is more important than ever before.  The version of VDI and remote desktop services in Windows Server 2008 improves the end user experience through new Remote Desktop Protocol capabilities.

These new capabilities, enabled with Windows Server 2008 R2 in combination with Windows 7, help make the user experience for remote users almost identical to local users.

The improved RemoteApp and Desktop Connections features in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 provide the following improvements:

• Extends Remote Desktop Services to provide tools to enable VDI
• Provides simplified publishing of, and access to, remote desktops and applications
• Tight integration with Windows 7 user interface
• Multimedia Redirection
• True multiple monitor support
• Audio Input & Recording
• Aero Glass support
• Improved audio/video synchronization
• Language Bar Redirection
• Task Scheduler

Improved RemoteApp and Desktop Management

While RAD improves the end-user experience, RAD also reduces the desktop and application management effort by providing a dedicated management interface that lets IT managers assign remote resources to users quickly and dynamically. Windows Server 2008 R2 includes the following RAD management capabilities to help reduce administrative effort:

• RemoteApp & Desktop Connections control panel applet
• Single administrative infrastructure
• Designed for computers that are domain members and standalone computers
• Always up to date
• Single sign-on experience within a workspace
• RemoteApp & Desktop Web Access

Improved RemoteApp and Desktop Deployment

Administrators faced with larger RAD deployment scenarios will also find additional management features in Windows Server 2008 R2’s Remote Desktop Services aimed at improving the management experience for all existing scenarios previously addressed by Terminal Services as well as the new scenarios available via RAD. These improved management features include:

• PowerShell Provider
• Profile Improvements
• Microsoft Installer (MSI) compatibility
• Remote Desktop Gateway

Deverill Expertise

Deverill have been providing innovative IT Consultancy services around Microsoft operating systems since Microsoft first released it server products, we have therefore built up a renowned and enviable skill set in the Implementation, Design, Security and Migration of  Remote Desktop Services (formally Terminal Server), environments. Deverill also offers the full range of Microsoft Training, Qualification and Certification.

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