Friday, 8 July 2011

SBS and RDS – Big Picture How To Set Up RDS On An SBS Network

Original posted to the SBS2K Yahoo Group. This list has been tweaked and updated a bit. :)

A quick overview of how to set up Remote Desktop Services and RD RemoteApps on an SBS network:

  1. Win2K8 R2 SP1 OS install
  2. Server drivers
  3. Updates
    1. Windows Server Updates (we group 6-10 at a time).
    2. Windows Server Security Updates (again 6-10 at a time).
    3. Others.
  4. Manufacturer’s Server Management.
    • Configure management settings.
  5. Enable the RDS Role (RDS + Licensing).
    • Leave mode for later.
  6. Install Office 2010 with SP1 integrated.
  7. RemoteApp deploy needed apps including Office, QB 2011, etc.
  8. Create RDP Files in RemoteApp Manager
    • We create an internal RDP file set to deploy to local user’s desktops.
    • We also create an external RDP file set that includes RD Gateway setting.
      • We customize each file name once created.
  9. Create folder under SBS RWW/RWA called RDPs.
    • C:\Program Files\Windows Small Business Server\Bin\WebApp\RemoteAccess\RDPs
  10. Copy RDG enabled RDP files into this folder.
    • Must be done from Windows Explorer on SBS.
  11. Make MIME changes for .RDP (Charlie's SBS 08 book has this)
  12. Edit RWW/RWA Links in SBS Console

When users connect to RDS or RemoteApp they will get a certificate warning. Coach them to tick the "Don't bug me again" box near the bottom left of the window.

Done.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

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5 comments:

  1. Seanpt09 July, 2011 06:07

    If you used a UC certificate would you be able to avoid those certificate errors?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Philip Elder Cluster MVP09 July, 2011 11:44

    Sean,

    No. The certificate warning is for the host's own cert (host.domain.local). So, for any non-domain joined system connecting the certificate would not be trusted by default.

    Philip

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous06 June, 2012 06:37

    If you are really only using SBS for file and print from a cost consideration is it a better choice to go with a totally new 2008r2 install if you want to do RDS vs purchasing the upgrade?

    I am looking at is a client with 3 independant sites (SBS 2003,2008,2011) and seeing about providing main business app via web interface or VDI.

    Any recommendations on way to obtain trail software to test if the app will work in this enviroment?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous14 September, 2012 08:02

    Hi Philip,

    Excellent article thanks for the info.

    Is there a way to also utilise the webfeed.aspx method for RemoteApp on local PCs without breaking RWW in SBS 2011?

    Many thanks in advance for your assistance.




    Ben

    ReplyDelete
  5. Philip Elder Cluster MVP14 September, 2012 09:13

    A. (June 2012 comment),

    For VDI we have a number of clients running dedicated Win7 OS VMS just for this purpose. Their LoBs do not work well with 2008 R2 RDS.

    Ben,
    Charlie Russell published how to make changes in IIS to allow the RDP file to be saved in a folder under /Remote and open that file automatically. It's in his 2003 book IIRC.

    We do not make any changes to any files within the RWA/OWA folders.

    Thanks,

    Philip

    ReplyDelete

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