View source for Configuring Windows Server 2008 RD Web Access

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<td width="20%">[[Configuring RemoteApps on Windows Server 2008 R2|Previous]]<td align="center">[[Windows Server 2008 R2 Essentials|Table of Contents]]<td width="20%" align="right">[[Deploying a Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Server Farm using RD Connection Broker|Next]]</td>
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<td width="20%">Configuring RemoteApps on Windows Server 2008 R2<td align="center"><td width="20%" align="right">Deploying a Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Server Farm using RD Connection Broker</td>
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Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services include a service called RD Web Access. This enables users to access a web page running on the RD Session Host to obtain a list of desktops and remote applications which are available for remote access. To access a remote desktop or application the user simply clicks on the appropriate icon and the desktop or remote application will start and display on the local system.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of installing and configuring RD Web Access on Windows Server 2008 R2. 

== Installing RD Web Access Role Service ==
 
This chapter assumes that the Remote Desktop Server role has already been installed and configured. If this is not the case, refer first to [[Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop (RD) Services]] for details on installing and configuring the Remote Desktop Server role. 

Once the Remote Desktop Server role is configured the next step is to add the RD Web Access Service Role to the system. This is achieved by starting the System Manager and selecting Roles from the right hand panel. Once the roles page is displayed scroll down until the Remote Desktop Services section is visible. As shown below the Remote Desktop Services role is already configured but the only Role Service configured is the Remote Desktop Session Host: 
 

[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_rd_roles.jpg|Installing the Windows Server 2008 R2 RD Web Access Role]]

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In order to add the RD Web Access role service click on the ''Add Role Services'' link and select ''Remote Desktop Web Access'' from the list of Role Services. RD Web Access requires a number of other roles, primarily in terms of the IIS web server role. As such, a second dialog will appear listing any additional services which need to be installed alongside the RD Web Access service. Click on the ''Add Required Role Services'' button to ensure that these services are also installed. Click the Next button to review information about the services being installed. Click Next to review the IIS services being installed (unless IIS is already installed on the system). Click Next once again to move to the confirmation screen and click on Install to initiate the installation. During the installation process it will be necessary to restart the system and log in as the same user to complete installation of the RD Web Access role service and any dependencies.
 
== Accessing the RD Web Access Page ==
 
Before accessing the RD Web Access web page it is important to note that the service makes use of JScript (Microsoft's implementation of JavaScript). Internet Explorer versions 7 and later disable JScript support by default, so it will be necessary to enable this support and to add the RD Web Access page as a trusted site. To enable JScript support, launch IE, open the Tools menu and select ''Internet Options''. In the Internet Options dialog select the ''Security'' tab and click on ''Custom Settings''. In custom settings, scroll down to Active Scripting and click in the Enable toggle. Apply the changes and restart IE. 
Once JScript has been enabled the RD Web Access page can be reached using the following URL: 

<pre>
https://systemID/RDweb
</pre>

Where ''systemID'' in the above URL is the name or IP address of the RD Session Host system. On successful connection the browser will prompt for the user and password credentials:


[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_rd_web_access_login.jpg|The Windows Server 2008 R2 RD Web Access login screen]]

 
Once valid credentials have been entered, the RD Web Access page will appear, listing any remote applications available for access on the local system (configuring RemoteApps for RD Web Access is covered later in this chapter): 


[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_rd_web_access_remoteapps.jpg|The Windows Server 2008 R2 RD Web Access RemoteApps screen]]


Clicking on the Remote Desktop tab will display a form allowing the user to establish a virtual session with a desktop on any systems to which they have appropriate permissions:


[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_rd_web_access_desktop.jpg|Establishing a connection with a remote desktop]] 


== Configuring RemoteApps for TS Web Access ==
 
To configure applications such that they can be launched from the Windows Server 2008 R2 RD Web Access page they must first be installed for use with Remote Desktop Services and then configured as RemoteApps. Refer to [[Installing Applications for Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services]] for details on how to install applications for use with remote desktop Services. Once this has been achieved, applications are configured as RemoteApps using the RemoteApp Manager which is accessed either from the ''Start -> All Programs -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote App Manager'' or by running '''remoteprograms.msc''' in a Run dialog or command prompt. Once launched, the manager will appear as follows: 
 

[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_remoteapp_manager.jpg|The Windows Server 2008 R2 RemoteApp manager tool]]


To configure an application as a RemoteApp, begin by clicking on the ''Add RemoteApp Programs'' link in the Actions panel located in the top right hand corner of the RemoteApp Manager screen. This will display the RemoteApp wizard containing a list of currently installed applications. One or more applications may be selected from the list before pressing the Next button: 


[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_remoteapps_configured.jpg|Configuring RemoteApp programs for RD Web Access]]


It is essential that any RemoteApps be configured for access via RD Web Access. To ensure this is the case, select the appropriate application from the list and click on the ''Properties...'' button to open the RemoteApp Properties dialog as shown below. Within this dialog, make sure that the ''RemoteApp is available through RD Web Access'' box is checked: 
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[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_remoteapp_properties.jpg|Making a RemoteApp available through RD Web Access]]


Click OK to close the RemoteApp Properties dialog and then click Next in the wizard to proceed to the Review Settings screen and Finish to complete the configuration. Upon completion the applications will be listed under RemoteApp Programs as illustrated below: 


[[Image:windows_server_2008_r2_remoteapps_configured.jpg|RemoteApp programs configured in Windows Server 2008 R2 RemoteApp Manager]]


With the RemoteApp applications configured they will now appear on the RD Web Access page ready to be invoked by a remote user. When launched, these applications will appear within their own windows on the client desktop just as if they are locally installed applications.

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