Server 2016 RDS HTML5 anyone using it?

[fiza]

Currently have RDS set up on Server 2016 and successfully using it during lockdown for RemoteApps. Would like to look at the HTML5 version so that it can be used on Chromebooks too. I know I can get Android Apps working on Chromebooks and do it that way but feel HTML5 would be the better way to go.

 

Is anyone using it? Any pitfalls?

 

If I have a running RDS Server can I install HTML5 without taking it down and does the HTML5 then take over from the RDP method currently in use?

[mdrabble]

Using the HTML5 on RDS 2019 so cannot comment on RDS 2016 - using this guide- https://custominterfacesolutions.com/rds-2019-web-client-steps-install/

 

I use it as my preferred method for students.

 

Staff seem to prefer to use mstsc and other RDP apps.

 

Changed the IIS redirect to the HTML5 link and works really well.

 

Only downside is that you cannot really customise the HTML5 page - so no logos etc....

 

There was a post on here somewhere which showed how to at least change wording to display the name of your school etc.

[fiza]

@mdrabble Did you set up from scratch or onto an existing RDS server?

[mdrabble]

@fiza I did it on Both - had an existing single RDS box which I install it on and when I replaced that server with 2 RDS newer boxes I installed from Scratch.

[chinesewhispers]

We've got this set up working outside school, but how are you getting it to work inside the network? I can't get our chromebooks to see the server URL, I thought I'd created exceptions where necessary, but I think it's still looking to go outside to get to the internal resource. It works internally on other devices (Windows, Mac).

 

AD DNS, Smoothwall, Ruckus WiFi.

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited September 21, 2020 by chinesewhispers

[Jcx500]

We had to add it to our allowed categories

[chinesewhispers]

Allowed in Smoothwall? It does appear to be a DNS style issue where it's trying to find the server outside rather than inside?

 

We had to add it to our allowed categories

[free780]

It use Web sockets so don't do any SSL/TLS Interception on it.

 

If your really brave you can put it through the Azure App Proxy then you don't have make an inbound rule in your perimeter firewall :-). But you need the licensing.

[MS2011]

Using the HTML5 on RDS 2019 so cannot comment on RDS 2016 - using this guide- https://custominterfacesolutions.com/rds-2019-web-client-steps-install/

 

I use it as my preferred method for students.

 

Staff seem to prefer to use mstsc and other RDP apps.

 

Changed the IIS redirect to the HTML5 link and works really well.

 

Only downside is that you cannot really customise the HTML5 page - so no logos etc....

 

There was a post on here somewhere which showed how to at least change wording to display the name of your school etc.

 

[emoji106]

[chinesewhispers]

OK, sorted. I'd originally added the DNS entry to our SW in the Static DNS Hosts, but when our support company changed the IP, I must have forgotten to change it in there. Now working internally via Chromebooks!

[Janx1975]

It appears that our school has the same issue that chinesewhispers faced (back in September 2020) with Chromebooks accessing the RDS HTML5 page internally (works fine from home).

I would be grateful if anyone could illustrate the steps taken to get this working within Smoothwall as would be a huge help for staff during this second lockdown for on-site planning from their chromebooks.

 

Also, when RDS was promoted to HTML5 did this require staff to use the domain backslash (schoolname\) before their username? I still have ours on test index.html and restricting to only a handful of staff until I can get this working internally as I am worried about external access being compromised.

 

Any help greatly appreciated!

[Steve21]

A lot of that kind of issue will depend how your network is set up. For general purposes, if you're bypassing the proxy locally for that address it shouldn't take your smoothwall into account at all, as it'd be Chromebook -> DC/DNS -> RDP

 

Any more info regarding yours would help

 

Steve

[free780]

Make sure you have MFA enabled. You can use the NPS method or use the App Proxy which is a bit more seamless for users.

[Janx1975]

We are using Google for Education - we dont use O365.