Terminal Services Overview

Terminal Services can provide access to Windows based applications from almost any location to almost any computing device. Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 includes Terminal Services RemoteApp (TS RemoteApp). Please note that the Terminal Services role cannot be installed on Domain Controller.

Terminal Services Terminology

• TS Remote App: Allows users to run a program located on a remote server from desktop as if it is running from the desktop.
  TS Web Access: It provides Web interface for accessing applications published on the Terminal Server
• TS Gateway: It provides authorized users to access to the remote application published behind the Firewall without needing VPN connectivity.
• TS Licensing: It manages the Terminal Services Client access licenses (TS CALs) that are required to connect to a Terminal Server. You can use TS Licensing to install, issue and monitor the availability of TS CALs.
• TS Session Broker: It helps in load balancing the sessions between the Terminal Servers in the Farm.

What are RemoteApp programs?

RemoteApp programs are programs that are accessed remotely through Terminal Services and appear as if they are running on the end user's local computer. Instead of being presented to the user in the desktop of the remote terminal server, the RemoteApp program is integrated with the client's desktop, running in its own resizable window with its own entry in the taskbar. Users can run RemoteApp programs side-by-side with their local programs. If a user is running more than one RemoteApp program on the same terminal server, the RemoteApp programs will share the same Terminal Services session.

In Windows Server 2008, users can access RemoteApp programs in the following ways:

• Access a link to the program on a Web site by using TS Web Access.
• Double-click a Remote Desktop Protocol (.rdp) file that has been created and distributed by their administrator.
• Double-click a program icon on their desktop or Start menu that has been created and distributed by their administrator with a Windows Installer (.msi) package.
• Double-click a file where the file name extension is associated with a RemoteApp program. This can be configured by their administrator with a Windows Installer package.

The .rdp files and Windows Installer packages contain the settings that are needed to run RemoteApp programs. After opening a RemoteApp program on their local computer, the user can interact with the program that is running on the terminal server as if it were running locally. The applications to be published on TS RemoteApp must be installed only after the Terminal services role is installed.

Distributing RemoteApp programs

RemoteApp program can be distributed in the following deployment methods:

• You can make RemoteApp programs available on a Web site by distributing the RemoteApp programs through TS Web Access.
• You can distribute RemoteApp programs as .rdp files or Windows Installer packages as .msi through a file share, or through other distribution mechanisms such as Microsoft Systems Management Server or Active Directory software distribution.

Scenarios where TS RemoteApp can be used

TS RemoteApp is especially useful in scenarios such as the following:

• Remote users: Users often need to access programs from remote locations, such as while working from home or while traveling. If you want users to access RemoteApp programs over an Internet connection, you can allow access through a Virtual Private Network (VPN), or you can deploy TS RemoteApp together with Terminal Services Gateway (TS Gateway) to help secure remote access to the programs.
• Branch offices: In a branch office environment, there may be limited local IT support and limited network bandwidth. By using TS RemoteApp, you can centralize the management of your applications and improve remote program performance in limited bandwidth scenarios.
• Line-of-business (LOB) applications deployment: Companies often need to run consistent LOB applications on computers that are running different Windows versions and configurations. Instead of deploying the LOB applications to all the computers in the company, which can be expensive in terms of time and cost, you can install the LOB applications on a terminal server and make them available through TS RemoteApp.
• Application deployment: With TS RemoteApp you do not have to deploy and maintain different versions of the same program for individual computers. If employees need to use multiple versions of a program, you can install those versions on one or more terminal servers, and users can access them through TS RemoteApp.
• Roaming users: In a company with a flexible desk policy, users can work from different computers. In some cases, the computer where a user is working may not have the necessary programs installed locally. By using TS RemoteApp, you can install the programs on a terminal server and make them available to users as if those programs were installed locally.
  

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