Terminal Services

[bwestlake]

Ok am i getting this correct, if so what is needed:

 

I want a TS Gateway to then connect to a virtual machine on a server,

- do i need a bank of virtual machines pre setup

- or can one copy the default one and run when required

[edutech4schools]

Depends what you need to accomplish.

 

You can connect to the server desktop using RDP and do not need any virtual machines. That is how I have set it up for a few staff members.

 

What OS? What are you trying to achieve?

[bwestlake]

So say from home a member of staff / student can remote into the school as if they are using a normal workstation but I want it stored on the server, at a previous school I worked at they used terminal services as a gateway to an ICT suit for use out of hours but I want to achieve say 30-40 machines on the server for staff or students to remote into, I have Hurd that when you remote in it can create a vm from the master image for them to use?

[bwestlake]

bump

[Achandler]

What your attempting to create is a Virtual Pool of machines.

 

Here is the very basic steps

 

On a server (physical), that you intend to use (I recommend Server 2012) choose to make a Virtual Pool when you install RDS.

You will then need to create a master image, then back it up (to allow any fixes later). Sysprep it but don't do anything else to it.

You can then create a Virtual Pool for users to login to, test it internally. Then you can add a gateway, which has an external hostname etc that you can connect through. This can be the same server if you want.

 

Or you could create a Remote Desktop Session based server, which would give you a similar result for less effort (in my opinion). We have both in place for different circumstances.

[bwestlake]

have you got any resource information on how to set this up ect please?

[Achandler]

I personally used this as a guide Deploying Windows 8 Virtual Desktop Infrastructure on Windows Server 2012

 

Then when I got stuck just Googled for any answers.

 

My one bit of advice is when you first install the server roles (as above) if you get an error, check the system logs for services not starting. This is because sometimes, ok most of the time, the account the service tries to run with can't actually run it.

 

There is also sometimes a quirk where you VMs won't start, try doing a gpupdate /force and then start them (no need to lgo off even if it asks)

 

Edit: We have Windows 7 Desktops event though the guide is for Windows 8