Event ID 2008 — Audio and Video Playback Redirection Configuration

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 7.0 and Windows Server 2008 R2 support improved media playback experience by efficiently transporting audio-based and video-based multimedia in a compressed format within the RDP protocol. This feature enables users to experience smooth, reliable playback of multimedia video content played back through Windows Media Player. If the client supports audio and video playback redirection, it will receive the original compressed multimedia stream from the server and decode it locally for display.

Note: Audio and video playback requires less network bandwidth because the data sent over the network is compressed video instead of a series of bitmap images.

Event Details

Resolve

Install the Remote Desktop Session Host role service

To use audio and video playback redirection, you must be using an RD Session Host server. You cannot use audio and video playback redirection on an administrative session. To resolve this issue, you must install the Remote Desktop Session Host role service.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To install the Remote Desktop Session Host role service:

1. Open Server Manager. To open Server Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
2. Under Roles Summary, click Add Roles.
3. On the Before You Begin page of the Add Roles Wizard, click Next.
4. On the Select Server Roles page, select the Remote Desktop Services check box, and then click Next.
5. On the Remote Desktop Services page, click Next.
6. On the Select Role Services page, select the Remote Desktop Session Host check box, and then click Next.
7. On the Uninstall and Reinstall Applications for Compatibility page, click Next.
8. On the Specify Authentication for Remote Desktop Session Host page, click Require Network Level Authentication, and then click Next.
9. On the Specify Licensing page, select the appropriate option, and then click Next.
10. On the Selelct User Groups Allowed Access To This Remote Deskop Session Host Server page, click Next.
11. On the Configure Client Experience page, select the appropriate options, and then click Next.
12. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, ensure that the RD Session Host role service will be installed, and then click Install.
13. On the Installation Results page, you are prompted to restart the server to finish the installation process. Click Close, and then click Yes to restart the server.
14. After the server restarts and you log on to the computer with the same user account that was used to install the Remote Desktop Session Host role service, confirm that the installation of the RD Session Host role service succeeded, and then click Close to close the RD Session Host configuration window.

Verify

To verify that audio and video playback redirection is configured correctly, do the following:

• Verify that the Remote Desktop Session Host role service is installed.
• Verify that the Windows Audio service is started.
• Verify that the Desktop Experience feature is installed on the RD Session Host server.
• Verify that the client settings are configured by using Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.

To perform these procedures, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

Verify that the Remote Desktop Session Host role service is installed

The Remote Desktop Session Host role service must be installed to use audio and video playback redirection.

To verify that the Remote Desktop Session Host role service is installed:

1. On the RD Session Host server, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.

2. Expand Roles, and then click Remote Desktop Services.

   Note: If  Remote Desktop Services is not available under the Roles heading, the Remote Desktop Session Host role service is not installed.

3. Under the Role Services heading, verify that Installed is shown in the Status column next to Remote Desktop Session Host.

Verify that the Windows Audio service is started

To use audio and video playback redirection, the Windows Audio service must be started.

To verify that the Windows Audio service is started:

1. On the RD Session Host server, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
2. Right-click Windows Audio, and then click Properties.
3. In the Service status box, ensure that Started is shown.
4. If you want this service to start each time the RD Session Host server is started, in the Startup type box, click Automatic.
5. Click OK.

Verify that the Desktop Experience feature is installed on the RD Session Host server

To use audio and video playback redirection, the Desktop Experience feature must be installed on the RD Session Host server.

To verify that the Desktop Experience feature is installed on the RD Session Host server:

1. On the RD Session Host server, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
2. Expand Features, and verify that Desktop Experience is displayed.

Verify that the client settings are configured by using Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration

To use audio and video playback redirection, the client settings must be configured by using Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.

To verify that the client settings are configured by using Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration:

1. On the RD Session Host server, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.
2. Under the Connections heading, right-click RDP-Tcp, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Client Settings tab.
4. Verify that the Audio and video playback checkbox is not selected.

Related Management Information

Audio and Video Playback Redirection Configuration

Remote Desktop Services