Windows 7 / Networking

Configuring and Using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection

RemoteApp and Desktop Connection requires configuration on both the server and client side. On the server side, you need a Windows Server 2008 R2 server that has the Remote Desktop Services role installed together with the following role services:

  • Remote Desktop Session Host
  • Remote Desktop Web Access
  • Remote Desktop Connection Broker

In addition, if you want users on client computers to also be able to connect to virtual machines using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection, you must install the Remote Desktop Virtualization Host role service, which also requires installing the Hyper-V role to the server.

For guidance on configuring RemoteApp and Desktop Connection on the server side, refer to steps 1 and 2 in the "Deploying RemoteApp Programs to the Start Menu by Using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection Step-by-Step Guide" found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772639.aspx. You will also need to import the SSL certificate for the Remote Desktop Web Access server to your client computers before the users of these computers can use RemoteApp and Desktop Connection. For information on how to import certificates, see step 3 of the above guide.

After you have configured your servers and have installed certificates on your clients, you can configure RemoteApp and Desktop Connection on the client side by following these steps:

  1. Open RemoteApp and Desktop Connection from Control Panel.
  2. Click Set Up A New Connection With RemoteApp And Desktop Connections to launch the New Connection wizard.
  3. Type the URL to the Remote Desktop Web Access server in the Connection URL box.
  4. Click Next to add connection resources for the RemoteApp And Desktop Connection (be sure to enter your credentials if prompted to do so). When the connection resources have been added, the details of the RemoteApp And Desktop Connection will be displayed.
  5. Click Finish to complete the wizard.
  6. To view all RemoteApp And Desktop Connections that have been added to the client, open RemoteApp And Desktop Connections again from Control Panel.
  7. You can now access your RemoteApp programs from the RemoteApp and Desktop Connections folder of your Start menu.
  8. You can even access them by searching for them using Start menu search.
  9. When you start a RemoteApp program, a balloon notification above the system tray icon indicates that a RemoteApp program is being used.

Administrators can create a RemoteApp and Desktop Connection client configuration file wcx) and distribute it to users so they can automatically configure the RemoteApp and Desktop Connection. Administrators can also use scripts to run the client configuration file silently on the client so that the RemoteApp and Desktop Connection is set up automatically when the user logs on to her Windows 7 computer.

To create a .wcx configuration file, follow these steps:

  1. Open Remote Desktop Connection Manager on your Remote Desktop Connection Broker server.
  2. Right-click on the root node in the console tree and select Create Configuration File.
  3. In the Create Configuration File dialog box, type the URL to the Remote Desktop Web Access server in the RAD Connection Feed URL box.
  4. Click Save, then distribute the configuration file to users as e-mail attachments, by placing them on a network share, or by using scripts.

For more information on RemoteApp and Desktop Connection, see the Remote Desktop Services section of Microsoft TechNet at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770412.aspx.

[Previous] [Contents]

In this tutorial:

  1. Connecting Remote Users and Networks
  2. Enhancements for Connecting Remote Users and Networks in Windows 7
  3. Understanding IKEv2
  4. Understanding MOBIKE
  5. Understanding VPN Reconnect
  6. Protocols and Features of VPN Reconnect
  7. How VPN Reconnect Works
  8. Understanding DirectAccess
  9. Benefits of DirectAccess
  10. How DirectAccess Works
  11. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
  12. Ipv6
  13. IPsec
  14. Perimeter Firewall Exceptions
  15. Implementing DirectAccess
  16. Understanding BranchCache
  17. Benefits of BranchCache
  18. How BranchCache Works
  19. Protocols Supported by BranchCache
  20. Implementing BranchCache
  21. Supported Connection Types
  22. Outgoing Connection Types
  23. Incoming Connection Types
  24. Deprecated Connection Types
  25. Supported Tunneling Protocols
  26. Comparing the Different Tunneling Protocols
  27. Understanding Cryptographic Enhancements
  28. Support for AES
  29. Weak Cryptography Removal from PP TP/L2TP
  30. Supported Authentication Protocols
  31. Understanding the VPN Connection Negotiation Process
  32. Creating and Configuring VPN Connection
  33. Creating a VPN Connection
  34. Initiating a Connection
  35. Terminating a Connection
  36. Viewing Connection Details
  37. Configuring a VPN Connection
  38. Configuring Security Settings for a VPN Connection
  39. Configuring the Tunneling Protocol (s) Used
  40. Configuring Advanced Connection Settings
  41. Configuring the Data Encryption Level
  42. Configuring the Authentication Method Used
  43. Configuring Authentication for IKEv2 connections
  44. Configuring Mobility for IKEv2 Connections
  45. Configuring Dial-Up Connections
  46. Creating a Dial-Up Connection
  47. Advanced Connection Settings
  48. Configuring Incoming Connections
  49. Managing Connections Using Group Policy
  50. Using Remote Desktop
  51. Understanding Remote Desktop
  52. Versions of RDP
  53. RDP 6.1 Features and Enhancements
  54. RDP 7.0 new features and enhancements
  55. RemoteApp and Desktop Connection
  56. Understanding RDC
  57. Understanding Remote Desktop Services Terminology
  58. Configuring and Using Remote Desktop
  59. Enabling Remote Desktop and Authorizing Users on a Single Computer
  60. Enabling Remote Desktop Using Group Policy
  61. Configuring and Deploying Remote Desktop Connection
  62. Configuring Remote Desktop Connection from the Command Line
  63. Configuring Remote Desktop Connection Using Notepad
  64. Configuring Remote Desktop Using Group Policy
  65. Establishing a Remote Desktop Session
  66. Improving Remote Desktop Performance
  67. Troubleshooting Remote Desktop Sessions
  68. Configuring and Using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection