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Remote Desktop Client Experience

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

What are the major changes?

The Remote Desktop Connection client experience has been enhanced for computers running Windows 7 that are connecting to a Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) server running Windows Server 2008 R2.

The following changes are available in Windows Server 2008 R2:

  • Audio and video playback. In Windows Server 2008 R2, audio and video content, played back by using Windows Media Player, is redirected from the RD Session Host server to the client computer in its original format and rendered by using the client computer's resources. Other multimedia content such as Silverlight and Windows Presentation Foundation are rendered on the server. The bitmaps are then compressed and sent over to the client.

  • Multiple monitor support. Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 7.0 and Windows Server 2008 R2 enable support for up to 16 monitors. This feature supports connecting to a remote session with any monitor configuration that is supported on the client computer. Programs function just like they do when they are running on the client computer.

Warning

Desktop composition is not supported on an RD Session Host session with multiple monitors.

  • Audio recording redirection. RDC 7.0 and Windows Server 2008 R2 redirect audio recording devices, such as microphones, from the client computer to the remote desktop session. This may be useful for organizations that use voice chat or Windows Speech Recognition.

  • Desktop composition. RDC 7.0, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2 support Windows Aero within an RD Session Host session.

Warning

Desktop composition is not supported in a remote session from Windows Vista® to Windows 7, or in a remote session from Windows 7 to Windows Vista even if the RDC 7.0 client is installed. You must be using Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 to take advantage of the desktop composition feature.

  • Language bar redirection. In RDC 7.0 and Windows Server 2008 R2, you can use the language bar on the client computer to control the language settings within your RemoteApp programs.

These new capabilities, enabled with Windows Server 2008 R2 in combination with Windows 7, significantly improve the experience of remote users, making it more similar to the experience of users accessing local computing resources.

Who will be interested in this feature?

The improvements to the Remote Desktop Connection client experience will be of interest to organizations that currently use or are interested in Remote Desktop Services.

Which editions include this feature?

The improvements to the Remote Desktop Connection client experience are available in the following editions of Windows Server 2008 R2:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter

The improvements to the Remote Desktop Connection client experience are not available in the following editions of Windows Server 2008 R2:

  • Windows Web Server 2008 R2

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems

Additional references

For information about other new features in Remote Desktop Services, see What's New in Remote Desktop Services.