RDS for Admins

LBCC RDS for Admins

The Basics:

What are Remote Desktop Services (RDS)?

  • RDS at LBCC are designed for remote/offsite employees to be able to have remote access to applications or full desktops on the LBCC internal network over SSL (the web) instead of using a VPN.
  • There are two deployments: one called “Remote Apps” for applications like Banner and Laserfiche, and one called “Remote Desktop” for full Windows 11 virtual desktop.

Where are the Remote Apps and Remote Desktops located?

  • The Remote Apps deployment resides on the server ‘ALB-RDS-01’. Remote Desktops resides on ‘ALB-RDS-02’. Since these are physical servers (Dell R740xd’s) they are not listed in VMWare and must be accessed by RDP connection at ‘ALB-RDS-01’ or ‘ALB-RDS-02’ or by the KVM in the server room.

How does a user access Remote Apps and Remote Desktop?

  • Instructions for first time setup and use of Remote Desktop or Remote Apps are in the documents “LBCC Remote Desktop Setup Instructions” and “LBCC Remote Apps Setup Instructions” respectively, in the TDX KB.

Why are we using RDS instead of Horizon?

  • Horizon is being phased out due to no longer needing remote access staff-wide because of Covid and for cost savings, since we no longer need much of the functionality of Horizon.
  • LBCC RDS is designed as a lighter-weight replacement of remote services for staff that still do specific types of work remotely.

What does this mean for me as an admin?

  • Once users are up and running, the Network team will be handling maintenance, updates/upgrades, and system-wide issues. The Support team may only need to be involved when a user is unable to connect to their virtual instance (be it Remote App or Remote Desktop). As we continue to use the system in the future, any comments or suggestions to make the system more streamlined and efficient are always welcome!

 

The Framework:

  • User AD account is added to the respective AD group for app or desktop access at LBCC.LINBENTON.EDU > LBCC-OU’s > Information Services.
    • For Remote Apps user Banner, LF (for LF Forms), and LFRepo (for LF Repository).
    • For Remote Desktop use RDS-RemoteDesktopUsers-Personal.
    • RDS-RemoteDesktopUsers group is not currently being used.

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  • In Remote App, users will only see and have access to the applications that they are assigned to in the Remote Gateway.

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  • On the Remote App server ALB-RDS-01, active user sessions and statuses can be seen in Server Manager > Remote Desktop Services > Collections > Banner & Laserfiche > Connections Panel (Zoom in for details). Be sure to hit the ‘Refresh’ button to display current statistics.

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  • On the Remote Desktop server ALB-RDS-02, active user sessions and statues can be seen in Server Manager > Remote Desktop Services > Collections > RDS-RemoteDesktops > Connections Panel (Zoom in for details).

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  • You can right-click on a user session to manually log a user off if the session is stuck or for other troubleshooting.

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  • Please be very cautious when on the RDS servers. If you’re not sure about something, please ask!

 

Common Issues & Troubleshooting:

Remote App:

  1. RemoteApp Not Launching
  • Possible Causes:
    • Incorrect credentials, network connectivity issues, or corrupted RemoteApp configuration.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Verify that the user is entering the correct credentials.
    • Confirm that the user has network access to the RemoteApp server.
    • Re-download the RemoteApp configuration file from the RD Web Access portal.

2. Slow Performance or Lag in RemoteApp

  • Possible Causes:
    • Network latency, server resource overload, or client device performance issues.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Have the user test their network speed.
    • Check for high CPU or memory usage on the RemoteApp server.
    • Restart the RemoteApp session to clear any resource congestion.

3. Printer Not Redirecting in RemoteApp

  • Possible Causes:
    • Incorrect printer redirection settings, driver issues, or group policy restrictions.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Ensure that printer redirection is enabled on the RemoteApp settings.
    • Verify that the correct printer drivers are installed on the client device.
    • Check group policy settings on the RD Gateway for any printer restrictions.

4. RemoteApp Closes Unexpectedly

  • Possible Causes:
    •  Network interruptions, server session limits, or application crashes.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Confirm the user has a stable network connection.
    • Verify that session timeout policies are correctly configured.
    • Review event logs on the RemoteApp server for application errors.

5. Application Display Issues (Scaling/Text Size)

  • Possible Causes:
    • Display scaling settings on the client, incorrect display settings on the server.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Adjust the display scaling settings on the client PC (Windows Settings > Display).
    • Ensure that the RemoteApp server is configured to allow dynamic resolution.

Remote Desktop:

1. Remote Desktop Not Connecting

  • Possible Causes:
  • Network connectivity issues, server not reachable, or incorrect credentials.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Verify network connectivity between the client and the server.
    • Check the Remote Desktop settings on the client device (ensure Remote Desktop is enabled).
    • Confirm that the user has the necessary permissions.

2. Black Screen on Remote Desktop

  • Possible Causes:
    • Graphics driver issues, display settings, or session timeout.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Update the graphics drivers on the client device.
    • Set the display settings to "Use all monitors" in the RDP client.
    • Disconnect and reconnect the session.

3. Clipboard Not Working in Remote Desktop

  • Possible Causes:
    • Clipboard redirection disabled, RDP session policy settings.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Ensure that clipboard redirection is enabled in the RDP settings.
    • Restart the Remote Desktop Connection app.
    • Review group policy settings on the server.

4. Audio Not Redirecting in Remote Desktop

  • Possible Causes:
    • Audio redirection disabled, audio drivers missing.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Confirm that audio redirection is enabled in the RDP client settings.
    • Check that the correct audio device is selected on the client.
    • Reinstall the audio drivers on the client device.

5. Remote Desktop Freezes or Disconnects Randomly

  • Possible Causes:
    • Network instability, server resource limits, or incorrect session timeout settings.
  • Troubleshooting Steps:
    • Confirm that the user has a stable network connection.
    • Monitor server resource usage (CPU, memory, network).
    • Review session timeout settings on the server.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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