Checklist: RemoteFX Installation Prerequisites

  • Article

Updated: February 16, 2011

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1

This parent checklist includes cross-reference links to important concepts about the Remote Desktop Services design. It also contains links to subordinate checklists that will help you complete the tasks that are required to implement this design.

Note

Complete the tasks in this checklist in order. When a reference link takes you to a procedure, return to this topic after you complete the steps in that procedure so that you can proceed with the remaining tasks in this checklist.

This checklist provides tasks that an administrator should perform before installing and configuring a RemoteFX server.

Checklist: RemoteFX installation prerequisites

  Task Reference

Verify that the server meets the Hyper-V™ hardware requirements

The Hyper-V hardware requirements for Windows Server 2008 R2 are available in the Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Library

For information about Hyper-V hardware requirements for Windows Server 2008 R2 are available on Requirements and Limits for Virtual Machines and Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=180919).

Verify that the RemoteFX server has a SLAT-enabled processor.

The processor in the RemoteFX server must support Second-Level Address Translation (SLAT). In virtualization scenarios, hardware-based SLAT support improves performance. On Intel processors, this is called Extended Page Tables (EPT), and on AMD processors, it is called Nested Page Tables (NPT).

Verify the GPU on the RemoteFX server.

At least one graphics processing unit (GPU) is required on the RemoteFX server. The GPU driver must meet the RemoteFX additional qualifications for the Windows Log Program. GPUs that meet these standards will support DirectX 9.0c and DirectX 10.0 and have sufficient dedicated video memory to deliver the RemoteFX experience. If more than one GPU is installed in the RemoteFX server, the GPUs must be identical.

For highly available environments, such as those using Live migration, source and destination servers must have identical GPUs installed.

Verify that all XDDM GPUs, including on-board GPUs are disabled.

A baseboard management controller is used to remotely manage the server, such as remotely configuring a server’s BIOS or viewing the server’s console. RemoteFX requires that a WDDM driver is installed on the server, but a baseboard management controller likely uses an XDDM driver. A video adapter that uses an XDDM driver and a display adapter that uses a WDDM driver cannot be simultaneously running.

Any GPUs with an XDDM driver must be disabled through the BIOS or by using the RemoteFX cap driver. This includes baseboard management controllers that are used for KVM over IP. For more information about disabling a GPU in the BIOS, consult the manufacturer. For more information about installing the RemoteFX cap driver, see Installing the RemoteFX Cap Driver.

Add the RemoteFX encoder hardware card for additional scalability. (Optional)

The RemoteFX encoder can be installed on the RemoteFX server for additional scalability.