Configuring Remote Desktop Connection
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
By using the Remote Desktop Connection tool, you can set from the client many of the same settings that you can set on the server using TSCC, Group Policy, or WMI. Because server settings override client settings, it is recommended that you set these settings on the server for ease of management. However, there are some situations where you might need to set these settings using the Remote Desktop Connection tool. An example is if you are providing access to the same terminal server for users with slightly different user roles or purposes. These settings are summarized in Table 4.5. For detailed explanations and recommendations for these settings, see "Designing the Terminal Server Configuration" earlier in this chapter.
Table 4.5 Remote Desktop Connection Tool Settings
| Tab | Description |
|---|---|
General |
Enter or change logon and connection settings. |
Display |
Change remote Desktop size (resolution) and color depth, and choose whether to display the connection bar in full-screen mode. |
Local Resources |
Control sound, the behavior of keyboard combinations, and connections to local devices (drives, printers, and serial ports). |
Programs |
Start a program upon connection to the terminal server. |
Experience |
Configure the connection speed and adjust the desktop environment for optimal performance |
With the Remote Desktop Connection tool you can also create and save a preconfigured Remote Desktop Connection for distribution.
Preconfiguring a Remote Desktop Connection
Remote Desktop Connection is installed by default on all versions of Windows Server 2003, most versions of Windows CE, and all versions of Windows XP operating systems. On earlier versions of Windows and on the Pocket PC you must manually install Remote Desktop Connection in order to connect to Terminal Server.
Note
- Windows 2000 includes the 32-bit Terminal Services Client for connecting to Terminal Services. It is recommended that you install the latest version of the Remote Desktop Connection to get the latest performance improvements.
You can preconfigure a Remote Desktop Connection for distribution to your client computers through Group Policy as an .msi package along with associated files.
To create a preconfigured Remote Desktop Connection for distribution
Open Remote Desktop Connection.
Expand the dialog box by clicking the Options button and configure the connection.
On the General tab of the Remote Desktop Connection tool, click the Save As button, navigate to the folder in which you want to save the configured connection, rename the file, and click Save.
Create an .msi package and distribute it to your Terminal Server users OU. For information about how to create an .msi package, see the Windows Installer documentation link on the Web Resources page at https://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources.
Note
- Users need to enter their own user name and password into the connection.
Configuring the Desktop Experience
You can configure the connection speed and fine-tune the desktop environment for optimal performance by using the settings located on the Experience tab of the Remote Desktop Connection tool. The settings available on this tab are summarized in Table 4.6. Most of these settings relate to the graphical nature of the desktop. Because the processing for graphics happens on the server and must be transmitted to the desktop over the network connection, you can increase performance by allowing only the minimal settings that are necessary for your users. When you choose a connection speed, the check boxes are automatically selected to indicate the recommended settings for the richest visual experience possible at that speed.
Table 4.6 Desktop Experience Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
Desktop background |
Allows user to choose a custom background or wallpaper for their desktop. Because these can be very graphic-intensive, disable this setting unless it is necessary for your users. |
Show contents of window while dragging |
Redraws the contents of a window rather than showing just the frame of the window when you move the window across the screen. Because this redrawing takes place on the server and needs to be transmitted over the network connection to display on the user’s desktop, disable this setting unless it is necessary. |
Menu and window animation |
Enables cascading menus and scroll transitions for menus and tool tips. Because this rendering takes place on the server and needs to be transmitted over the network connection to display on the user’s desktop, disable this setting unless it is necessary. |
Themes |
Allows user to choose a background plus a set of sounds, icons, and other elements for their desktop. Because many themes are graphic-intensive, disable this setting unless it is necessary for your users. |
Bitmap caching |
Stores frequently used images on the local computer to speed up the connection. By enabling this setting, these images do not have to be transmitted across the network connection each time they appear on the desktop. This setting is enabled by default. |
Locking Down the User Session
You can configure Group Policy settings and apply them to your Terminal Server Users group to control your users sessions and user access to certain features on the server. For more information about controlling user sessions, see article 278295, "How to Lock Down a Windows 2000 Terminal Server Session." To find this article, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base link on the Web Resources page at https://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources. You can also lock down your users’ sessions by using the Security Templates MMC snap-in or the settings under Computer Configuration/Windows Settings/Security Settings in the Group Policy Object Editor.