-->

1. Windows Server 2016 Remote Desktop Licensing
2. Windows Server 2016 Remote Desktop Services User Connections (50)

1 Client PC running Windows 10 (CLIENT-10) 01 – open Server Manager Click Add roles and features. 02 – Click Next to proceed. 03 – Choose Remote Desktop Services installation button and click next to proceed. 04 – on the Select deployment type box, click Quick Start (I choose this because I only have One Server for RDS and Remote Apps). Multipoint Services is a new role in Windows Server 2016, which is part of Remote Desktop Services as a new deployment type, as shown in Figure 11.18. The Multipoint Services role contains the functionality that was previously in the Windows MultiPoint Server (WMS) 2012 separate product along with some enhancements.

Applies to: Windows Server (Semi-Annual Channel), Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016

Leverage the power of Active Directory with Multi-Factor Authentication to enforce high security protection of your business resources.

For your end-users connecting to their desktops and applications, the experience is similar to what they already face as they perform a second authentication measure to connect to the desired resource:

• Launch a desktop or RemoteApp from an RDP file or through a Remote Desktop client application
• Upon connecting to the RD Gateway for secure, remote access, receive an SMS or mobile application MFA challenge
• Correctly authenticate and get connected to their resource!

For more details on the configuration process, check out Integrate your Remote Desktop Gateway infrastructure using the Network Policy Server (NPS) extension and Azure AD.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) built on Windows Server 2016 is a virtualization platform enabling a wide range of customer scenarios. Improvements in the overall RDS solution incorporates the work done by both the Remote Desktop team and other technology partners at Microsoft. The following scenarios and technologies are new or improved in Windows Server 2016.

Also be sure to check out our session from Ignite 2016: Harness RDS improvements in Windows Server 2016. In this video, the product team reviews all of the new and improved features in Remote Desktop Services, including vGPU support.

App Compatibility - Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10

Built on the same foundation of Windows 10, Windows Server 2016 not only has the same look and feel you expect out of a desktop but can also run many of the same applications. Pairing Windows Server 2016 with the graphics capabilities (below) gives you an environment for all users to be productive.

Azure SQL Database - the new database for your highly available environment

Windows Server 2016 Remote Desktop Licensing

The RD Connection Broker is able to store all of the deployment information (like connection states and user/host mappings) in a shared SQL database, such as an Azure SQL database. Ditch the SQL Server Always On Availability Group deployment manual, grab the connection string to the Azure SQL database, and start using your highly available environment.

Additional information: Use Azure SQL DB for your Remote Desktop Connection Broker high availability environment

Graphics - solving graphics needs across various scenarios

Windows Server 2016 Remote Desktop Services User Connections (50)

Thanks to Hyper-V's Discrete Device Assignment, you can now map GPUs on a host machine directly to a VM to be consumed by its GPU-requiring applications. Improvements have also been made in RemoteFX vGPU, including support for OpenGL 4.4, OpenCL 1.1, 4k resolution, and Windows Server virtual machines.

Additional information: Discrete Device Assignment

RD Connection Broker - improved connection handling during logon storms

With improved connection handling, the RD Connection Broker is now able to handle over 10,000 concurrent logon requests, sometimes seen during 'logon storms'. The improved RD Connection Broker also makes maintenance of the deployment simpler by being able to more quickly add servers back into the environment.

Additional information: Improved Remote Desktop Connection Broker Performance

RDP 10 - new capabilities built into the protocol

RDP 10 now uses the H.264/AVC 444 codec, appropriately optimizing across both video and text. With this release, pen remoting is also supported. With these capabilities, your remote sessions start to feel even more like a local session.

Additional information: RDP 10 AVC/H.264 improvements in Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016

Personal session desktops - providing individual desktops to any end-user

Personal session desktops is a new way to have your own personal desktop hosted for you in the cloud. Administrative privileges and dedicated session hosts removes the complexity of hosting environments where users want to manage the desktop like it's their own.

Additional information: Personal Session Desktops