Windows Server 2008 R2 : Deploying Remote Desktop Services (part 8) - Deploying Virtual Desktops & Deploying RD Licensing

3/22/2011 10:00:09 PM

Deploying Virtual Desktops

The steps in this section describe how to deploy virtual desktops.

Installing the RD Virtualization Host Role Service

1.	Log on to the desired Hyper-V server that will be hosting the RD Virtualization Host role service with local administrator privileges.
2.	Click Start, and then click Run.
3.	In the Run dialog box, type in ServerManager.msc and click OK.
4.	In the Roles Summary section, click the Add Roles task.
5.	After the Add Roles Wizard loads, click Next.
6.	On the Select Server Roles page, select the Remote Desktop Services role, and click Next, as shown in Figure 4.
7.	On the Remote Desktop Services page, click Next.
8.	Now, on the Select Role Services page, only select the Remote Desktop Virtualization Host role service. This is the only role service that is being installed at this time. Click Next. Note If Hyper-V is not installed, it will be installed automatically by the installation wizard.
9.	On the Confirm Installation Selections page, review the selections made, and then click Install.
10.	On the Installation Results page, review the results, and click Close.

Configuring a Personal Virtual Desktop

Personal virtual desktops are specific virtual machines hosted on an RD Virtualization Host server that have been assigned to a user account in Active Directory. The following steps describe how to assign an existing virtual machine to a user. These steps should be carried out on the server that has the RD Connection Broker role service installed:

1.	Log on to the desired server with local administrator privileges.
2.	Click Start, Administrative Tools, Remote Desktop Services, Remote Desktop Connection Manager.
3.	Next, in the Actions pane click the Configure Virtual Desktops Wizard option.
4.	Once the wizard has loaded, click Next.
5.	Now, on the Specify an RD Virtualization Host Server page, define the name of the RD Virtualization Host server in the Server Name field, click the Add button, and then click Next.
6.	On the Configure Redirection Settings page, define the name of an RD Session Host server running in Redirection mode in the Server Name field, click the Add button, and then click Next.
7.	On the Specify an RD Web Access Server page, click Next.
8.	On the next page, click Apply, ensure that the Assign Personal Virtual Desktop check box is selected, and then click Finish.
9.	Next, on the Assign Personal Virtual Desktop page, click Select User.
10.	In the Enter the Object Name to Select box, enter the user’s account name and click OK.
11.	Next, in the Virtual Machine box, select the name of the virtual machine being defined to the user, and click Next.
12.	Now, confirm the information is correct, and click Assign.
13.	Finally, clear the Assign Another Virtual Machine to Another User check box, and then click Finish.

Configuring a Virtual Desktop Pool

A virtual desktop pool is a grouping of identically configured virtual machines that reside on an RD Virtualization Host server. The following steps describe how to create a virtual desktop pool using existing virtual machines that reside on an RD Virtualization Host server. These steps should be carried out on the server that has the RD Connection Broker role service installed and the Configure Virtual Desktops Wizard has not been executed:

1.	Log on to the desired server with local administrator privileges.
2.	Click Start, Administrative Tools, Remote Desktop Services, Remote Desktop Connection Manager.
3.	Next, in the Actions pane click the Configure Virtual Desktops Wizard option.
4.	Once the wizard has loaded, click Next.
5.	Now, on the Specify an RD Virtualization Host Server page, define the name of the RD Virtualization Host server in the Server Name field, click the Add button, and then click Next.
6.	On the Configure Redirection Settings page, define the name of an RD Session Host server running in Redirection mode in the Server Name field, click the Add button, and then click Next.
7.	On the Specify an RD Web Access Server page, click Next.
8.	On the next page, click Apply, clear the Assign Personal Virtual Desktop check box, and then click Finish.
9.	Next, in the Actions pane of the Remote Desktop Connection Manager, click the Create Virtual Desktop Pool option.
10.	On the Welcome page, click Next.
11.	Now, select all of the virtual machines that will be part of the virtual desktop pool, and then click Next.
12.	On the Set Pool Properties page, define the following and then click Next: Display Name box— Define the name for the virtual desktop pool. Pool ID box— Define the ID used for the virtual desktop pool.
13.	Lastly, click Finish.

Deploying RD Licensing

RD Licensing is a required component of any Remote Desktop Services deployment. To deploy RD Licensing, the following tasks must be completed:

1.	Determine the type of RDS CALs that will be used.
2.	Install the RD Licensing role service.
3.	Activate the RD licensing server.
4.	Install RDS client access licenses (RDS CALs) on the RD licensing server.
5.	Configure the RD Session Host servers to use the licensing server.

Installing the RD Licensing Role Service

To use the RD Licensing service, the RD Licensing role service needs to be installed on the system. To install the RD Licensing role service, do the following:

1.	Log on to the desired server with local administrator privileges.
2.	Click Start, and then click Run.
3.	In the Run dialog box, type in ServerManager.msc and click OK.
4.	Under Roles Summary, select the Remote Desktop Services option.
5.	Under Role Services, select the Add Role Services task.
6.	On the Select Role Services page, select the Remote Desktop Licensing role service.
7.	On the Configure Discovery Scope for RD Licensing page, do not choose a scope option and click Next.
8.	On the Confirm Installation Selections page, verify the settings, and then click Install.
9.	On the Installation Results page, confirm that the installation was successful, and then click Close.

Activating the RD Licensing Server

An RD licensing server can be activated automatically if the server has Internet access, through a web page from any computer with Internet access, or by the administrator calling a Microsoft Clearing House using an 800 number. The licensing server is activated by contacting the Microsoft Clearing House server that will send the RD licensing server a digital certificate. To activate an RD licensing server, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, Administrative Tools, Remote Desktop Services, Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
2.	Right-click the RD licensing server and select Activate Server.
3.	Click Next on the Welcome page.
4.	Choose the proper connection method, and click Next. If you choose the Web Browser or Phone Connection method, follow the instructions in the window to complete the activation. Click Finish when you are done. If you choose Automatic Activation, enter the appropriate company information to send to the Microsoft Clearing House, and click Next at each window.
5.	After the server is activated, uncheck the Install Licenses Wizard Now check box, and click Finish to return to the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.

Installing Client Access Licenses

After the RD licensing server is activated, CALs must be installed using the following steps:

1.	Click Start, Administrative Tools, Remote Desktop Services, Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
2.	Right-click the RD licensing server, and click Install Licenses.
3.	Click Next on the Welcome page, and depending on the default connection method, the CAL Installation Wizard will try to connect to the Microsoft activation server.
4.	When the wizard connects to the activation server, choose the license program that the organization participates in, and click Next. For example, select License Pack (Retail Purchase), Open License, or Select License, as shown in Figure 19. Figure 19. Choosing the license program.
5.	On the Licensing Code page, enter the license number or agreement number for your licensing pack, click the Add button, and then click Next.
6.	After the licensing information is verified and the CALs are installed, click Finish to close the CAL Installation Wizard.