Remote Desktop Services

Article
01/15/2010

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

Remote Desktop Services provides technologies that enable access to Windows-based programs, a session-based Windows desktops, or a virtual desktops.

Hierarchy of Managed Entities

Managed Entities

Name	Description
Remote Desktop Licensing	Remote Desktop Licensing (RD Licensing) is a Remote Desktop Services role service that manages the Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) that are required for each device or user to connect to a Remote Desktop Session Host or Remote Desktop Virtualization Host server. You use RD Licensing to install, issue, and track the availability of RDS CALs on a Remote Desktop license server.
Remote Desktop Gateway	Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) is a role service that enables authorized remote users to connect to resources on an internal corporate or private network, from any Internet-connected device that can run the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client. The network resources can be Remote Desktop Session Host servers, virtual desktops, or computers with Remote Desktop enabled.
RD Connection Broker	Remote Desktop Connection Broker (RD Connection Broker) is a Remote Desktop Services role service in Windows Server 2008 R2 that supports session load balancing between Remote Desktop Session Host servers in a farm, connections to personal virtual desktops and virtual desktop pools by using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection, and reconnection to an existing session in a load-balanced Remote Desktop Session Host server farm.
RemoteApp and Desktop Connection Management	Remote Desktop Connection Manager is a service in Windows Server 2008 R2 that enables the aggregation of RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops through the Start menu on a client computer.
RD Web Access	Remote Desktop Web Access (RD Web Access) is a Remote Desktop Services role service in Windows Server 2008 R2 that enables users to visit a Web site (either from the Internet or from an intranet) to access a list of available RemoteApp programs and virtual desktops published by using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection. To start a RemoteApp program or virtual desktop, users click the program icon.
Remote Desktop Session Host	Remote Desktop Session Host is a Remote Desktop Services role service that supports sharing of Windows-based programs or the full Windows desktop. Users can connect to a Remote Desktop Session Host server to run programs, save files, and use network resources on that server.
Remote Desktop Virtualization Host	RD Virtualization Host is a Remote Desktop Services role service included with Windows Server 2008 R2. RD Virtualization Host integrates with Hyper-V to provide virtual machines that can be used as personal virtual desktops or virtual desktop pools. An RD Virtualization Host server has the following functions: Monitoring virtual machine guest sessions and reporting these sessions to the RD Connection Broker server. Preparing the virtual machine for a remote desktop connection when requested by the RD Connection Broker server.
RemoteApp and Desktop Connection	RemoteApp and Desktop Connection provides a personalized view of RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops to users. When a user starts a RemoteApp program or a session-based desktop, a Remote Desktop Services session is started on the Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) server that hosts the remote desktop or RemoteApp program. If a user connects to a virtual desktop, a remote desktop connection is made to a virtual machine that is running on a Remote Desktop Virtualization Host (RD Virtualization Host) server. To configure which RemoteApp programs, session-based desktops, and virtual desktops are available through RemoteApp and Desktop Connection, you must add the Remote Desktop Connection Broker (RD Connection Broker) role service on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 R2, and then use Remote Desktop Connection Manager.