Remote Desktop Web Access (RD Web Access) is a role service on the server that you want users to connect to over the web to access RemoteApp and Desktop Connection. When you install the RD Web Access role service, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) is also installed.
The server where you install RD Web Access acts as the web server. The server does not need to be a Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) server or a Remote Desktop Connection Broker (RD Connection Broker) server.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up RD Web Access role service on a Windows server.
To install RD Web Access
STEP 1
On the Windows computer you want to install Rd Web Access, go to Server Manager. Server Manager can be accessed in the following ways.
A- Search for Server Manager from the Windows Search box.
B- Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then Click Server Manager.
STEP 2
From the Server Manager console, Select Manage, then Click Add Roles and Features.
STEP 3
On the Before You Begin page, Click Next.
STEP 4
On the Select Server Roles page, Select the Remote Desktop Services check box, and then Click Next.
STEP 5
Review the Remote Desktop Services page, Select Remote Desktop Service Installation, then Click Next.
STEP 6
On the Remote Desktop Service page, Select standard deployment or Quick Start deployment option, then Select Next.
For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be setting up Remote Desktop Service using the Quick Start.
Note: You need to make sure the server is joined to a domain before using the Quick Start deployment.
STEP 7
On the Deployment Scenario, Select Session based desktop deployment, then Click Next.
STEP 8
On the Server Selection page, Select the server from the server pool, then Click Next.
STEP 9
Select the Restart option on the confirmation page, then Click Deploy.
STEP 10
Monitor the installation progress. Do not close the page until installation is complete.
Note: The server will restart but will continue once you are signed in again.
STEP 11
Installation complete.
STEP 12
To confirm if RD Web Access is working correctly, click on the URL as shown above, and you will be redirected to the Remote Desktop web access portal.
A- Make sure to sign in using an administrator account from your domain.
That’s it! You’ve now successfully set up RD Web Access.
There’s a Better Way to Access Your Apps Remotely
Now, you know how to set up RD Web Access, but there’s a way to get the same result in 3 steps instead of 12. All you need is a V2 Cloud account.
Step 1: Create a shortcut of the application you want to give access
Login to your cloud computer with V2 Cloud as an administrator. Make sure to put the shortcut in a folder that your colleagues will have access to.
Step 2: Add a new remote application in your dashboard
Go to the V2 Cloud Dashboard and click on the Apps tab. Then, click on Add a new remote application:
The fields need to be filled in the following way:
Name / Description
Path – You need to put the path where the shortcut is located. The best way to do it is with copy/paste:
Once this is done, add .lnk at the end. It will look as on the image below:
Select Apply to all users if you would like the Remote App to be available to all users. If you want to enable the Remote App for a specific user only, leave this option unchecked.
Click Submit.
Step 3: Give access to your users
On the Dashboard, click on the Users tab:
Find the specific user and click on its Action button, then Edit user.
On the Remote apps drop-down menu, select your application: (You can select as many applications as you want and the user will be asked to choose which application to use after logging in with the V2 Cloud Desktop app.)
Click submit
Voilà! Your users now have access to the remote application on a cloud desktop connection!
