Deploying Microsoft Remotefx for Personal Virtual Desktops Step-By-Step Guide
Deploying Microsoft RemoteFX for Personal Virtual Desktops Step-by-Step Guide
Microsoft Corporation
Published: October 2010
Abstract
This step-by-step guide walks you through the process of setting up a working personal virtual desktop that uses Microsoft® RemoteFX™ in a test environment.
Copyright Information
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Contents
Deploying Microsoft RemoteFX for Personal Virtual Desktops Step-by-Step Guide
About this guide
Prerequisites
Scenario: Deploying RemoteFX for a personal virtual desktop in a test environment
Related documents
Step 1: Setting Up the CONTOSO Domain
Configure the RD Virtualization Host server (RDVH-SRV)
Configure the RD Connection Broker server (RDCB-SRV)
Configure the RD Web Access server (RDWA-SRV)
Step 2: Setting Up the Virtual Machine
Prepare the personal virtual desktop (PVD1-CLNT)
Configure the virtual machine for Remote Desktop Services
Step 3: Configuring the Personal Virtual Desktop
Step 4: Installing and Configuring RemoteFX
Step 5: Verifying the Functionality of RemoteFX for Personal Virtual Desktops
Step 6: Configuring RemoteFX for an Optimal Experience
Related topics
Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the virtual machine connection console disconnected when RemoteFX is enabled?
How can I tell if my GPU has sufficient video memory?
How can I tell if my Remote Desktop session is using RemoteFX?
Are multiple GPUs supported on a single RemoteFX server?
Troubleshooting
The following error message appeared when I attempt to start the selected virtual machine(s): “Failed to power on with error ‘Unspecified error.’”
The following error message appeared when I attempted to start the selected virtual machine(s): “Microsoft Synthetic 3D Display Controller failed to power on.”
An error message appeared when I attempted to start the selected virtual machine(s).
The following error message appeared after I install the virtual GPU: “Connection was denied because the user account is not authorized for remote log on.”
Performance is slow when I use my RemoteFX virtual desktop.
I see artifacts on my RemoteFX-enabled virtual desktop.
My RemoteFX-enabled session defaults to a single monitor session.
I see artifacts on my RemoteFX-enabled virtual desktop
My RemoteFX-enabled session falls back to a single monitor session
An event is logged for RemoteFX-enabled virtual machines: Using CPU to compress because of insufficient GPU resources
Deploying Microsoft RemoteFX for Personal Virtual Desktops Step-by-Step Guide
About this guide
This documentation is preliminary and subject to change.
Microsoft® RemoteFX™ is included as part of the RD Virtualization Host role service, and it enables the delivery of a full Windows user experience to a range of client devices including rich clients, thin clients, and ultrathin clients. RemoteFX renders content by using graphics processing units (GPUs) that are present on the server and then shared across multiple virtual desktops. RemoteFX renders a range of content including DirectX and all types of multimedia, and it is optimized for LAN-based networks.
This step-by-step guide walks you through the process of setting up a working personal virtual desktop that uses RemoteFX. During this process, you will deploy the following components in a test environment:
A Remote Desktop Virtualization Host (RD Virtualization Host) server that uses RemoteFX
A Remote Desktop Connection Broker (RD Connection Broker) server
A Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) server in redirection mode
A Remote Desktop Web Access (RD Web Access) server
A virtual machine that is configured as a personal virtual desktop
This guide assumes that you previously completed the steps in the Installing Remote Desktop Session Host Step-by-Step Guide ( and that you have already deployed the following components:
An RD Session Host server
A Remote Desktop Connection client computer
An Active Directory® Domain Services domain controller
This guide includes the following topics:
Step 1: Setting Up the CONTOSO Domain
Step 2: Setting Up the Virtual Machine
Step 3: Configuring the Personal Virtual Desktop
Step 4: Installing and Configuring RemoteFX
Step 5: Verifying the Functionality of RemoteFX for Personal Virtual Desktops
Step 6: Configuring RemoteFX for an Optimal Experience
Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions
The goal of a personal virtual desktop is to provide a user with a virtual desktop that is assigned to only that user.
For a downloadable version of this document, see the Deploying Microsoft RemoteFX for Personal Virtual Desktops Step-by-Step Guide ( in the Microsoft Download Center.
Prerequisites
When implementing RemoteFX, consider the following:
The RemoteFX server and the RemoteFX-enabled virtual desktop must meet the RemoteFX hardware requirements. For more information about the hardware requirements for deploying RemoteFX, see Hardware Considerations for RemoteFX (
Ensure that the hyper-threading technology is enabled in the BIOS of the RD Virtualization Host server.
Configure the proper RAM as required. Per the Windows® 7 requirements, if you are using an x86-based virtual machine, you must configure at least 1024 megabytes (MB) of RAM. If you are using an x64-based virtual machine, you must configure at least 2048 MB of RAM.
Ensure that you are running the matching build of Windows Server® 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) on the RemoteFX server, Windows 7 with SP1 on the virtual machine, and Windows 7 with SP1 on the client computer.
Ensure that there is a LAN connection between the client and the RD Virtualization Host server.
Ensure that the Windows Aero® desktop experience is enabled on the RemoteFX-enabled virtual desktops.
Scenario: Deploying RemoteFX for a personal virtual desktop in a test environment
We recommend that you first use the procedures provided in this guide in a test lab environment. Step-by-step guides are not necessarily meant to be used to deploy Windows Server features without supporting deployment documentation, and they should be used with discretion as stand-alone documents.
Upon completion of this step-by-step guide, you will have a personal virtual desktop that uses RemoteFX. You can then test and verify this functionality by connecting to the personal virtual desktop from RD Web Access as a standard user.
The test environment that is described in this guide includes seven computers that are connected to a private network by using the following operating systems, applications, and services:
Computer name / Operating system / Applications and servicesCONTOSO-DC / Windows Server 2008 R2 / Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), DNS
RDSH-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / RD Session Host
CONTOSO-CLNT / Windows 7 with SP1 / Remote Desktop Connection
RDVH-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / RD Virtualization Host, RemoteFX, Hyper-V™
RDCB-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / RD Connection Broker
RDWA-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / RD Web Access
PVD1-CLNT / Windows 7 with SP1 / Virtual machine
The computers form a private network, and they are connected through a common hub or Layer 2 switch. This step-by-step guide uses private addresses throughout the test lab configuration. The private network ID 10.0.0.0/24 is used for the network. The domain controller is named CONTOSO-DC for the domain named contoso.com. The following figure shows the configuration of the test environment.
Related documents
The following documents in the Microsoft Technical Library can assist you in configuring RemoteFX:
Hardware Considerations for Microsoft RemoteFX (
Install Microsoft RemoteFX (
Configure the Microsoft RemoteFX 3D Video Adapter (
What’s New in Microsoft RemoteFX (
Deploying Microsoft RemoteFX on a Single Remote Desktop Virtualization Host Server Step-by-Step Guide (
Deploying Microsoft RemoteFX for Virtual Desktop Pools Step-by-Step Guide (
Configuring USB Device Redirection with Microsoft RemoteFX Step-by-Step Guide (
Step 1: Setting Up the CONTOSO Domain
This documentation is preliminary and subject to change.
To prepare your test environment for the personal virtual desktop that uses RemoteFX in the CONTOSO domain, you must complete the following tasks:
Configure the RD Virtualization Host server (RDVH-SRV)
Configure the RD Connection Broker server (RDCB-SRV)
Configure the RD Web Access server (RDWA-SRV)
Use the following table as a reference for the computer names, operating systems, and network settings that are required to complete the steps in this guide.
Important
Before you configure your computers with static IP addresses, we recommend that you complete Windows product activation while each of your computers still has Internet connectivity. You should also install any available critical security updates from Windows Update (
Computer name / Operating system requirement / IP settings / DNS settingsCONTOSO-DC / Windows Server 2008 R2 / IP address:
10.0.0.1
Subnet mask:
255.255.255.0
Default gateway:
10.0.0.1 / Configured by DNS server role
RDSH-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / IP address:
10.0.0.2
Subnet mask:
255.255.255.0
Default gateway:
10.0.0.1 / Preferred:
10.0.0.1
CONTOSO-CLNT / Windows 7 with SP1 / IP address:
10.0.0.3
Subnet mask:
255.255.255.0
Default gateway:
10.0.0.1 / Preferred:
10.0.0.1
RDVH-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / IP address:
10.0.0.4
Subnet mask:
255.255.255.0
Default gateway:
10.0.0.1 / Preferred:
10.0.0.1
RDCB-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / IP address:
10.0.0.5
Subnet mask:
255.255.255.0
Default gateway:
10.0.0.1 / Preferred:
10.0.0.1
RDWA-SRV / Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 / IP address:
10.0.0.6
Subnet mask:
255.255.255.0
Default gateway:
10.0.0.1 / Preferred:
10.0.0.1
Configure the RD Virtualization Host server (RDVH-SRV)
Use the following procedures to configure the RD Virtualization Host server:
Install Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1.
Add the Hyper-V role.
Configure TCP/IP properties so that RDVH-SRV has an IPv4 static IP address of 10.0.0.4.
Join RDVH-SRV to the contoso.com domain.
Install the graphics card by using a driver that is supplied by the manufacturer.
To install Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1
1.Start your computer and insert the Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 product DVD.Note
Alternatively, you can install Windows Server 2008 R2 and then upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 by using the Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 update package.
2.When prompted to select the operating system that you want to install, click Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise (Full Installation), and then click Next.
Note
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard with SP1 and editions with the Hyper-V role are also supported for use with RemoteFX.
3.When prompted for a computer name, type RDVH-SRV.
4.Follow the rest of the instructions that appear on your screen to finish the installation.
To add the Hyper-V role
1.Log on to RDVH-SRV with the RDVH-SRV\Administrator account.2.Open Server Manager. To open Server Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
3.Under Roles Summary, click Add Roles.
4.On the Before You Begin page of the Add Roles Wizard, click Next.
5.On the Select Server Roles page, select the Hyper-V check box, and then click Next.
6.On the Introduction to Hyper-V page, click Next.
7.On the Create Virtual Networks page, click Next.
8.On the Confirm Installation Selections page, click Install.
9.When the installation finishes, click Close.
10.Click Yes to restart the computer. The computer may restart twice. This is expected behavior.
To configure TCP/IP properties
1.Log on to RDVH-SRV with the RDVH-SRV\Administrator account.2.Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet, click Network and Sharing Center, click Change adapter settings, right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
3.On the Networking tab, select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) check box, and then click Properties.
4.Click Use the following IP address. In the IP address box, type 10.0.0.4. In the Subnet mask box, type 255.255.255.0. In the Default gateway box, type 10.0.0.1.
5.Click Use the following DNS server addresses. In the Preferred DNS server box, type 10.0.0.1.
6.Click OK, and then close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.
To join RDVH-SRV to the contoso.com domain
1.Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.2.Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings.
3.On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
4.In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, under Member of, click Domain, and then type contoso.com.
5.Click More, and in the Primary DNS suffix of this computer box, type contoso.com.
6.Click OK, and then click OK again.
7.When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears prompting you for administrative credentials, provide the credentials for CONTOSO\Administrator, and then click OK.
8.When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears welcoming you to the contoso.com domain, click OK.
9.When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears telling you that the computer must be restarted, click OK, and then click Close.
10.Click Restart Now.
To install the graphics card driver
1.Download the latest graphics card driver installation file from the manufacturers Web site.2.Install the driver on the RD Virtualization Host server, and then restart the computer.
Important
Ensure that you download and install the latest driver for the graphics card that is installed on the RemoteFX server. Do not rely on the graphics card driver that is included with Windows Server 2008 R2.
Configure the RD Connection Broker server (RDCB-SRV)
Use the following procedures to configure the RD Connection Broker server:
Install Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 on a stand-alone server.
Configure the TCP/IP properties and the DNS server.
Join RDCB-SRV to the contoso.com domain.
Install the RD Connection Broker role service.
To install Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1
1.Start your computer and insert the Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 product DVD.Note
Alternatively, you can install Windows Server 2008 R2 and then upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 by using the Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 update package.
2.When prompted to select the operating system that you want to install, click Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise (Full Installation), and then click Next.
3.When prompted for a computer name, type RDCB-SRV.
4.Follow the rest of the instructions that appear on your screen to finish the installation.
To configure TCP/IP properties and the DNS server
1.Log on to RDCB-SRV with the RDCB-SRV\Administrator account or another user account in the local Administrators group.2.Click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet, click Network and Sharing Center, click Change adapter settings, right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
3.On the Networking tab, select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) check box, and then click Properties.
4.Click Use the following IP address. In the IP address box, type 10.0.0.5. In the Subnet mask box, type 255.255.255.0. In the Default gateway box, type 10.0.0.1.
5.Click Use the following DNS server addresses. In the Preferred DNS server box, type 10.0.0.1.
6.Click OK, and then close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.
To join RDCB-SRV to the contoso.com domain
1.Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.2.Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings.
3.On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
4.In the Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box, under Member of, click Domain, and then type contoso.com.
5.Click More, and in the Primary DNS suffix of this computer box, type contoso.com.
6.Click OK, and then click OK again.
7.When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears prompting you for administrative credentials, type the credentials for CONTOSO\Administrator, and then click OK.
8.When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears welcoming you to the contoso.com domain, click OK.
9.When a Computer Name/Domain Changes dialog box appears telling you that the computer must be restarted, click OK, and then click Close.
10.Click Restart Now.
To install the RD Connection Broker role service