Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services - 5 User CAL

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 moves into a leadership position in the virtualization market. With the same feature portfolio as the competition available in Windows Server 2008 R2 out-of-box, the TCO argument for R2 over an additional third-party software purchase becomes a no-brainer. Live Migration allows administrators to migrate running virtual machines from one physical host to another in milliseconds, without connection loss or service interruption for connected users.

This area covers two disparate categories. One the one hand, Windows Server 2008 R2 was designed to give Microsoft enterprise customers an unprecedented set of tools for protecting, monitoring and maintaining their enterprise server infrastructure. That includes scalability and reliability updates to features, like support for up to 256 logical cores for single instances of Windows Server 2008 R2 and up to 32 logical cores for a single VM instance.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) makes it possible to run an application or an entire desktop in one location, but have it be controlled in another. With RDS, you can install and manage session-based desktops and applications, or virtual-machine based desktops on centralized servers in the data center; screen images are delivered to the users, and the users' client machines, in turn, send keystrokes and mouse movements back to the server. When using Remote Desktop Services, administrators can present users with an entire desktop environment, or with their individual applications and data which they require to complete their task. From a user perspective, these applications are integrated seamlessly--looking, feeling, and behaving like local applications.

Microsoft RemoteFX
Microsoft RemoteFX is designed to introduce a new set of end user experience enhancements to remote desktop computing in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 that enable a rich, local-like desktop environment over the network. With RemoteFX, connected knowledge and task workers can experience their workspace in full fidelity, improving end user productivity, while their applications and data are kept highly secure and centrally managed in the data center.
By leveraging the power of advanced codecs and virtualized graphics resources on the data center host, RemoteFX adds support for any application, including 3D, and rich media to a virtual desktop environment. In doing so, RemoteFX complements and extends the user experience enhancements of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) in Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services.
As an integral part of RDP, RemoteFX ensures continuity with existing RDP features while offering new and exciting capabilities for virtual or session-based desktops. For virtual desktops deployed on top of the Hyper-V virtualization platform in Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, graphics hardware-assisted rendering of the screen content on the VDI host will ensure that even the most advanced applications today and tomorrow will "just work".
RemoteFX allows for minimum hardware requirements on the end point device including a new class of extremely low-cost clients. As a result, RemoteFX extends the benefits of a rich remote desktop or application to a wide array of end point devices, from the most powerful PC to thin clients and other access devices, offering customers more choices for their centralized computing infrastructure.

Top Reasons to Upgrade

Windows Server 2008 R2 considerably improves the set of tools to accelerate and extend desktop and application deployments to any device. In addition to the traditional presentation virtualization scenario, which Remote Desktop Services has enabled for many years, this new version of the operating system will expand its role to provide an extensible platform for a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, also known as VDI. VDI is a centralized desktop delivery architecture which allows customers to centralize the storage, execution and management of a Windows desktop in the data center. It enables Windows Vista Enterprise and other desktop environments to run and be managed in virtual machines on a centralized server.

This page presents the top five technology reasons why customers should consider upgrading to Windows Server 2008 R2, and includes details on each of the features described.

• Integration with VDI: Windows Server 2008 R2 considerably improves the platform and tool set for accelerating and extending desktop and application deployments to any device. In addition to the traditional presentation virtualization scenario, which Remote Desktop Services has enabled for many years, this new version of the operating system will expand its role to provide an extensible platform for, and integrate with, a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). VDI is a centralized desktop delivery architecture which allows customers to centralize the storage, execution and management of a Windows desktop in the data center. It enables Windows Vista Enterprise and other desktop environments to run and be managed in virtual machines on a centralized server.


• Improved User Experience: We are announcing new and exciting user experience enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2 in combination with Windows 7 Enterprise & Ultimate Editions. These new Remote Desktop Services and RDP capabilities significantly improve the experience of remote users, bringing the experience closer to the experience enjoyed by users accessing local computing resources.


• Simplified Publishing and Access: The new RemoteApp & Desktop Connections feature provides a set of resources, such as RemoteApp programs and Remote Desktops. These connections are easy to set up and automatically kept up to date so the user always has access to the latest applications that their administrator makes available. The new RemoteApp & Desktop Web Access provides the ability to see the same application and desktop icons connect to remote program and desktop resources from Windows Vista & Windows XP, in addition to Windows 7.


• Improved Configuration, Management, Security and Control: Remote Desktops Services in Windows Server 2008 R2 focuses on improving management for all the existing session-based remote desktop scenarios delivered previously in Remote Desktop Services, and the exciting new virtual machine-based scenarios in Remote Desktop Services; additionally we have added features to help improve application compatibility such as the new MSI Installer compatibility.


• Better Platform for Partner Innovation: Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008 R2 provides an expanded set of opportunities for partners to create new value added services and solutions through new features, new APIs and documentation.

VDI integration, improved user experience, simplified publishing and access, as well as an improved platform for configuration, management, security/control and for partner innovations all represent excellent reasons to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2. And when you upgrade from Windows Server 2008, your Windows Server 2008 TS-CALs will continue to work in R2.

Product information is advisory only. Specifications and compatibility should be checked with the manufacturer before order. Images are for illustrative purposes only.