Windows 8: Remote Desktop Connection Inbound Not Working - Fix

We had a bit of a puzzle with setting Windows 8 up on a couple of SBS 2011 networks. It was a puzzle because on the SBS 2008 network where we configured a Windows 8 VM we had no RDP issues once we force enabled RDP inbound via GPO.

But, on SBS 2011 networks we have had no success at it.

There is a new predefined Inbound rule on the Win8 VM:

• Remote Desktop – User Mode (TCP-In)
• Programs and Services: %SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe
• Protocols and Ports: TCP #6 at port 3389

In our SBS 2011 GPO for managing our clients and servers we have:

No such thing.

So, we go on to create it:

1. Add the program path:
• 
2. Answer Yes:
• 
3. Set the port structure:
• 
4. Allow all IPs:
• 
5. Set the connection to Allow:
• 
6. We permit the rule for all connection types:
• 
7. Name the rule: Remote Desktop – User Mode (TCP-In)
• Description: Inbound rule for the Remote Desktop service to allow RDP traffic. (TCP 3389).
8. GPUpdate /force on the DC/SBS.
9. GPUpdate /force on the Windows 8 machine/VM.

Once the policy takes the rule will show up:

When we bring up the properties of the GPO delivered rule:

We are now able to RDP into the Windows 8 desktop OS. We have yet to stand up a Windows 8 Server however it is likely that RDP on the server OS will require the same rule.

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