What is Remote Desktop Services (RDS)?

Microsoft’s multiuser thin client environment for Windows servers. The user’s computer serves as a central server’s input/output (I/O) terminal. Instead of running on each user’s PC, the desktops of the users can run in a central data center, making software installation, configuration, and upgrading easier to manage. Users can now access their desktops from any machine that supports Remote Desktop Services (RDS).

What is Remote Desktop Services (RDS)?

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is an umbrella term for features of Microsoft Windows Server that allow users to remotely access graphical desktops and Windows applications.

Users can access desktops and applications – also known as Microsoft Azure – from various types of client applications and devices, including non-Windows devices, via Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

How does RDS work?

A centralized Windows server hosts a pre-configured virtual machine (VM) that runs a configured operating system (OS) and applications. The Microsoft server runs the application and shares resources with authorized users. Users can access the applications and share resources without handling the backend IT bottlenecks. The server projects the VM image on the client’s devices with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which is responsible for collecting the user’s input, sending it to the server, and offering real-time access.

Simply, RDS is a multichannel protocol that enables users to create separate virtual channels to present licenses, encrypt data, and establish serial device communication for multiple OS.

Benefits of Remote Desktop Services

Following are the benefits of the Remote Desktop Services environment, which may help you better understand its functionalities.

• Windows applications can be supplied to devices that lack the ability to run them natively. This includes machines with insufficient resources as well as those running different operating systems such as iOS or Android.
• Rather than upgrading all end-user devices, more computer resources can be delivered to centralized, cloud-based apps that are used remotely to provide increased performance.
• Data can be saved in the distant end, making it more secure in the case that a user’s device fails or is stolen.
• It can decrease the time necessary to configure new user devices by delivering apps and desktops from a master image in the cloud to a device that supports a Remote Desktop client.

Remote Desktop Services components

IT can implement Remote Desktop Services using multiple instances of Windows Server performing various roles.

The primary workload role, hosting Windows desktops and applications, is Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH). RDSH contains session-based sharing capabilities that allow multiple users to access desktops and applications simultaneously on a single instance of Windows Server.

Remote Desktop Services infrastructure roles that are implemented in Windows Server include RD Connection Broker, RD Gateway, RD Licensing, and RD Web Access.

Microsoft provides Remote Desktop clients for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Apple iOS, Google Android, and HTML5-capable browsers.

What are the uses of RDS?

Organizations use Remote Desktop Services in two specific ways to access Windows desktops and applications remotely and help meet business requirements.

• The RemoteApp facility of RDS enables a business to make cloud-based applications available to users on personal computers or mobile devices. This enables application management to be centralized and ensures consistency throughout an organization.
• The Microsoft Remote Desktop component of RDS lets users connect to alternate desktops from their current devices. After establishing the connection, users can interact with the remote desktop according to the permissions they have on the system. Individuals can use this new virtual desktop as if it was installed on their physical machine.

Why do you need RDS?

The RDS has a greater value to offer you. The bigger difference that you get from RDS is it allows you access to a steady desktop experience. As you have read earlier, you don’t need higher configuration local devices to access remote desktops with higher configuration.