Step 3: Configuring RemoteFX on a Remote Desktop Session Host Server

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1

Use the following procedures to configure RemoteFX on an RD Session Host server:

  • Set the maximum color depth to 32 bits per pixel on the RD Session Host server.

  • Enable RemoteFX compression.

To set the maximum color depth to 32 bits per pixel

  1. Log on to RDSH-SRV as a member of the local Administrators group.

  2. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.

  3. Under Connections, right-click RDP-Tcp, and then click Properties.

  4. On the Client Settings tab, select the Limit Maximum Color Depth check box, click 32 bits per pixel in the Limit Maximum Color Depth box, and then click OK.

  5. Click OK. Changes to the color depth settings are not applied to sessions that are connected when the change is made. The changes will take effect the next time the user establishes a new connection to the Remote Desktop Session Host server.

Note

You can also set the maximum color depth by applying the Limit maximum color depth Group Policy setting. This Group Policy setting is located in Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Remote Session Environment, and it can be configured by using Local Group Policy Editor or the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). The Group Policy setting will take precedence over the setting configured in Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.

Warning

Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on the computer.

To enable RemoteFX compression

  1. Log on to RDSH-SRV as a member of the local Administrators group.

  2. Click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc and then click OK.

  3. Navigate to Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Remote Session Environment.

  4. Double-click Configure RemoteFX, click Enabled, and then click OK..

You have configured RemoteFX on an RD Session Host server. Now you can proceed to Step 4: Verifying the Functionality of RemoteFX for Remote Desktop Session Host.