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Configuring Common RDP Settings

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Updated: March 2, 2011

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

You can specify common Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) settings for RemoteApp connections, such as device and resource redirection, and some user display settings. These settings will apply when a user connects to a RemoteApp program through RD Web Access, or when you create an .rdp file or a Windows Installer package from an existing RemoteApp program.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, on the RD Session Host server that you plan to configure, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

To configure common RDP settings

  1. On the RD Session Host server, open RemoteApp Manager. To open RemoteApp Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click RemoteApp Manager.

  2. In the Overview pane of RemoteApp Manager, next to RDP Settings, click Change.

  3. Under Devices and resources, configure which devices and resources on the client computer you want to make available in the remote session.

  4. Under User experience, choose whether to enable font smoothing and the desired color depth.

    You can also choose whether all available client monitors will be used when connecting to a remote desktop. This setting only applies when the user is connecting to a full desktop session to the RD Session Host server through RD Web Access. Connections to RemoteApp programs will always attempt to use all client monitors that are available.

Note

To provide a link to a full desktop session to the RD Session Host server through RD Web Access, on the Remote Desktop Session Host tab, under Remote desktop access, select the Show a remote desktop connection to this RD Session Host server in RD Web Access check box.

  1. When you are finished, click Apply.

Note

To configure additional RDP settings, such as audio redirection, click the Custom RDP Settings tab. For more information, see Configuring Custom RDP Settings.

  1. To close the RemoteApp Deployment Settings dialog box, click OK.

Note

If you do not sign .rdp files with a digital signature, or if you sign .rdp files with a digital signature that clients do not recognize (such as a certificate from a private certification authority), some redirection settings that you specify in RemoteApp Manager may be overridden by the client. For example, if you enable all redirection settings on the Common RDP Settings tab, and a user connects to an .rdp file that is not signed, disk drives, and supported Plug and Play devices will not be redirected automatically. These devices and resources will only be redirected if the user enables these redirection settings in the RemoteApp warning dialog box that appears when they try to connect. This default behavior helps to reduce potential security vulnerabilities. (Note that the same behavior occurs if you enable serial port redirection on the Custom RDP Settings tab.)