A guide to Terminal Services

Windows Terminal Services (TS) is Microsoft's thin-client technology that allows users to access desktops virtually. Renamed Remote Desktop Services (RDS) in Windows 2008 R2, the component -- built into Windows operating systems -- allows data to exist in a central location and simplifies management for systems administrators.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Getting started with Terminal Services
Management and security
New features and upgrades
Accessing Terminal Services remotely
Application virtualization

• Setting up Remote Desktop Service on Windows 2008 R2
  See how to install and configure Remote Desktop Services to use Terminal Services and Remote Desktop Gateway Manager, and learn to test Microsoft's virtual desktop infrastructure product.
• Capacity planning for Terminal Services
  Capacity planning for the latest version of Terminal Services can be confusing. Learn the trick to simplifying the process.
• Dealing with Terminal Services licensing issues
  Intimidated by Terminal Services' complex licensing requirements? Find out how to choose the most cost-effective licensing scheme.
• Terminal Services tutorial: Remote data management
  This tutorial provides an overview on licensing, managing and troubleshooting Terminal Services and improving your TS architecture.

Management and security

• Manage Remote Desktop Services with Windows PowerShell
  Learn how Remote Desktop Services can be managed with PowerShell in Windows Server 2008 R2.
• Managing Terminal Services via Group Policy
  Configuring and hardening Terminal Services through Group Policy settings improves the server's security and overall performance.
• Taking a fresh look at Terminal Services security
  Terminal Services simplifies application management, but many admins neglect security on the client side of client/server environments. Learn how to mitigate risk.
• How to troubleshoot Terminal Services connection problems
  Having a problem with your TS connection resource limits? Find out how a registry key can help resolve it.

New features and upgrades

• Terminal Services get a makeover in Windows Server 2008 R2
  Windows Server 2008 R2 brings a low-cost and easier-to-manage virtual desktop infrastructure closer to reality in.
• Terminal Services grows up with Windows Server 2008 R2
  Enhanced functionality such as Remote Desktop Virtualization and fair-share CPU scheduling are two new features in Windows Server 2008 R2.
Remote Desktop Virtualization
See why Remote Desktop Virtualization stands out as Windows Server 2008 R2's most compelling new capability.

Client-side rendering
Client-side rendering is another compelling new feature in Remote Desktop Services.

• Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 offers new capabilities
  Support for RemoteApp is among the new features in Windows Server 2008 that will appeal to end users.
Improved TS resource management in Windows Server 2008
See the five ways in which accessing local hardware has improved in Windows Server 2008.

Accessing Terminal Services remotely

• Planning a Terminal Services Gateway
  Terminal Services Gateway is a secure way to access TS remotely, but it requires knowing how to work with SSL certificates.
• Deploying Terminal Services Web Access
  Need to facilitate a remote Terminal Services session? The easiest method to use -- and set up -- is Terminal Services Web Access.

Application virtualization

• Working with Remote App in Terminal Services
  Learn how to use the RemoteApp feature in TS to host remote applications and access hosted applications, allowing for centralized desktop management.
• Microsoft bundles App-V with Remote Desktop Services
  IT shops that upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 will get a bonus from Microsoft. The software vendor will include its application-streaming technology in the license for free.
• Application virtualization: The Terminal Services killer?
  There are many reasons to deploy TS. But new virtualization technologies that simplify application management and lower server costs could change all that.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Getting started with Terminal Services
Management and security
New features and upgrades
Accessing Terminal Services remotely
Application virtualization