Step 1: Setting Up the Infrastructure

  • Article

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2

To prepare your Remote Desktop Services test environment in the CONTOSO domain, you must complete the following tasks:

  • Install and configure the domain controller (CONTOSO-DC)

  • Install and configure the RD Session Host server (RDSH-SRV)

  • Install and configure the Remote Desktop Connection client computer (CONTOSO-CLNT)

Use the following table as a reference when setting up the appropriate computer names, operating systems, and network settings that are required to complete the steps in this guide.

Important

Before you configure your computers with static Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, we recommend that you first complete Windows product activation while each of your computers still has Internet connectivity. You should also install any available critical security updates from Windows Update (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=47370).

Computer name Operating system requirement IP settings DNS settings

CONTOSO-DC

Windows Server® 2008 R2

IP address:

10.0.0.1

Subnet mask:

255.255.255.0

Configured by DNS server role

RDSH-SRV

Windows Server 2008 R2

IP address:

10.0.0.2

Subnet mask:

255.255.255.0

Preferred:

10.0.0.1

CONTOSO-CLNT

Windows® 7

IP address

10.0.0.3

Subnet mask:

255.255.255.0

Preferred:

10.0.0.1

Install and configure the domain controller (CONTOSO-DC)

To configure the domain controller CONTOSO-DC by using Windows Server 2008 R2, you must:

  • Install Windows Server 2008 R2.

  • Configure TCP/IP properties.

  • Install and configure Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).

First, install Windows Server 2008 R2 on a stand-alone server.

To install Windows Server 2008 R2

  1. Start your computer by using the Windows Server 2008 R2 product CD.

  2. When prompted for a computer name, type CONTOSO-DC.

  3. Follow the rest of the instructions that appear on your screen to finish the installation.

Next, configure TCP/IP properties so that CONTOSO-DC has an IPv4 static IP address of 10.0.0.1.

To configure TCP/IP properties

  1. Log on to CONTOSO-DC with the CONTOSO-DC\Administrator account.

  2. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet, click Network and Sharing Center, click Change adapter settings, right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

  3. On the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties.

  4. Click Use the following IP address. In the IP address box, type 10.0.0.1. In the Subnet mask box, type 255.255.255.0 and then click OK.

  5. On the Networking tab, click OK, and then close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.

Next, configure the computer as a domain controller by using Windows Server 2008 R2.

To configure CONTOSO-DC as a domain controller by using Windows Server 2008 R2

  1. Click Start, and then click Run. In the Run box, type dcpromo and then click OK.

  2. On the Welcome to the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard page, click Next.

  3. On the Operating System Compatibility page, click Next.

  4. On the Choose a Deployment Configuration page, click Create a new domain in a new forest, and then click Next.

  5. On the Name the Forest Root Domain page, in the FQDN of the forest root domain box, type contoso.com and then click Next.

  6. On the Set Forest Functional Level page, in the Forest functional level box, select Windows Server 2008 R2, and then click Next.

  7. On the Additional Domain Controller Options page, ensure that the DNS server check box is selected, and then click Next.

  8. Click Yes to create a delegation for this DNS server, and then continue.

  9. On the Location for Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL page, click Next.

  10. In the Password and Confirm password boxes, type a strong password, and then click Next.

  11. On the Summary page, review your selections, and then click Next to start the installation.

  12. When the installation is complete, click Finish, and then click Restart Now.

Configure user accounts

In this section you create the user accounts and groups in the CONTOSO domain.

First, create a user account named Morgan Skinner in Active Directory Domain Services.

To create a user account

  1. Log on to CONTOSO-DC as the domain administrator account, CONTOSO\Administrator.

  2. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.

  3. In the console tree, expand contoso.com.

  4. Right-click Users, point to New, and then click User.

  5. In the New Object – User dialog box, type Morgan Skinner in the Full name box and mskinner in the User logon name box, and then click Next.

  6. In the New Object – User dialog box, type a password of your choice in the Password and Confirm password boxes. Clear the User must change password at next logon check box, click Next, and then click Finish.

Install and configure the RD Session Host server (RDSH-SRV)

To configure the member server, RDSH-SRV, you must:

  • Install Windows Server 2008 R2.

  • Configure TCP/IP properties.

  • Join RDSH-SRV to the contoso.com domain.

First, install Windows Server 2008 R2 as a stand-alone server.

To install Windows Server 2008 R2

  1. Start your computer by using the Windows Server 2008 R2 product CD.

  2. When prompted for a computer name, type RDSH-SRV.

  3. Follow the rest of the instructions that appear on your screen to finish the installation.

Next, configure TCP/IP properties so that RDSH-SRV has a static IP address of 10.0.0.2. In addition, configure the DNS server by using the IP address of CONTOSO-DC (10.0.0.1).

To configure TCP/IP properties

  1. Log on to RDSH-SRV with the RDSH-SRV\Administrator account or another user account in the local Administrators group.

  2. Click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Network and Sharing Center, click Change adapter settings, right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

  3. On the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties.

  4. Click Use the following IP address. In the IP address box, type 10.0.0.2, and in the Subnet mask box, type 255.255.255.0.

  5. Click Use the following DNS server addresses. In the Preferred DNS server box, type 10.0.0.1.

  6. Click OK, and then close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.

Next, join RDSH-SRV to the contoso.com domain.

To join RDSH-SRV to the contoso.com domain

  1. Log on to the RDSH-SRV computer as the CONTOSO\Administrator user account.

  2. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.

  3. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings.

  4. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.

  5. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, click Domain, and then type contoso.com.

  6. Click More, and in the Primary DNS suffix of this computer box, type contoso.com.

  7. Click OK, and then click OK again.

  8. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears prompting you for administrative credentials, provide the credentials for CONTOSO\Administrator, and then click OK.

  9. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears welcoming you to the contoso.com domain, click OK.

  10. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears telling you that the computer must be restarted, click OK, and then click Close.

  11. Click Restart Now.

Install and configure the Remote Desktop Connection client computer (CONTOSO-CLNT)

To configure CONTOSO-CLNT, you must:

  • Install Windows 7.

  • Configure TCP/IP properties.

  • Join CONTOSO-CLNT to the contoso.com domain.

To install Windows 7

  1. Start your computer by using the Windows 7 product CD.

  2. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen, and when prompted for a computer name, type CONTOSO-CLNT.

Next, configure TCP/IP properties so that CONTOSO-CLNT has a static IP address of 10.0.0.3. In addition, configure the DNS server of CONTOSO-DC (10.0.0.1).

To configure TCP/IP properties

  1. Log on to CONTOSO-CLNT with a user account that is a member of the local Administrators group.

  2. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet, and then click Network and Sharing Center.

  3. Click Change adapter settings, right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

  4. On the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties.

  5. Click Use the following IP address. In the IP address box, type 10.0.0.3, and in the Subnet mask box, type 255.255.255.0.

  6. Click Use the following DNS server addresses. In the Preferred DNS server box, type 10.0.0.1.

  7. Click OK, and then close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.

Next, join CONTOSO-CLNT to the contoso.com domain.

To join CONTOSO-CLNT to the contoso.com domain

  1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.

  2. Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings.

  3. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.

  4. In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, click Domain, and then type contoso.com.

  5. Click More, and in the Primary DNS suffix of this computer box, type contoso.com.

  6. Click OK, and then click OK again.

  7. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears prompting you for administrative credentials, provide the CONTOSO\Administrator credentials, and then click OK.

  8. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears welcoming you to the contoso.com domain, click OK.

  9. When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears telling you that the computer must be restarted, click OK, and then click Close.

  10. Click Restart Now.

You have set up the infrastructure. Now you can proceed to Step 2: Installing and Configuring Remote Desktop Session Host.