Knowledge Base

Client requirements for Terminal Services Web Access in Windows Server 2008 RC0

Article ID: 943887

Article Last Modified on 11/30/2007

APPLIES TO

Windows Server 2008 Standard
Windows Server 2008 Standard 32-Bit
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter 32-Bit
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise 32-Bit
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems

Beta Information

This article discusses a beta release of a Microsoft product. The information in this article is provided as-is and is subject to change without notice.

No formal product support is available from Microsoft for this beta product. For information about how to obtain support for a beta release, see the documentation that is included with the beta product files, or check the Web location where you downloaded the release.

INTRODUCTION

In Windows Server 2008, Terminal Services Web Access (TS Web Access) is a role service that lets users start Terminal Services RemoteApp (TS RemoteApp) programs from a Web browser. When a user starts a TS RemoteApp program, a Terminal Services session is started on the Windows Server 2008-based terminal server that hosts the TS RemoteApp program.

To start a TS RemoteApp program, a user connects to a Web site that is hosted on the Windows Server 2008-based terminal server. When the user connects to the Web site, a list of available TS RemoteApp programs appears. Additionally, TS Web Access enables user to connect to the remote desktop of any server or client computer on which the user has the required permissions.

Starting with Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (RC0), you must have the most recent version of the Remote Desktop Client (RDC) program installed to use TS Web Access. Currently, the most recent version of the RDC program is available in Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta and in Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Beta.

Note If you are a participant in the Microsoft Connect program, you can download Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3 from the Microsoft Connect Web site.

MORE INFORMATION

Information for administrators

When users try to connect to TS Web Access from a computer where an earlier version of the RDC program is installed, they will receive an error message that includes a URL. This URL points the user to a Web page where they can find more information.

Currently, the URL that is included in the error message points to this Knowledge Base article. However, you can modify the URL that is included in the error message. To do modify the URL, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Use an ASP.NET application setting

To modify the URL that is included in the error message by using an ASP.NET application setting, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Run, type Inetmgr.exe, and then click OK.
Expand the server name, expand Sites, expand Default Web Site, and then click TS.

Note By default, TS Web Access is installed in the default Web site.

Under ASP.NET, double-click Application Settings.
In the actions pane, click Add.
In the Add Application Setting dialog box, type rdcInstallURL in the Name box.
In the Add Application Setting dialog box, type the URL for the Web page that includes more information about how to use TS Web Access, and then click OK.

Method 2: Edit the Web.config file

To modify the URL that is included in the error message, you can edit the Web.config file for the TS Web Access Web site. To edit the Web.config file for the TS Web Access Web site, follow these steps:

Open the Web.config file for the TS Web Access Web site in Notepad.

Note By default, the Web.config file for the TS Web Access Web site is located in the Web\ts folder.
Locate the <appSettings> section in the Web.config file.
In the <appSettings> section, add the following entry:
```
<add key="rdcInstallUrl" value="http://URL" />
```
Note In this entry, URL is the URL for the Web page that includes more information about how to use TS Web Access
On the File menu, click Save.
Exit Notepad.

Information for non-administrators

If you are not an administrator, contact the system administrator if you experience problems when you use TS Web Access. For example, the system administrator can help you obtain and install an updated version of the RDC program.

REFERENCES

For more information about TS Web Access and other Terminal Services features in Windows Server 2008, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web sites:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/servermanager/terminalservices.mspx

http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/95258ce8-5ddd-42cb-9e95-cec19ef4f43d1033.mspx?mfr=true

For more information about Terminal Services, visit the following MSDN Web site:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ts/

Keywords: kbtermserv kbtshoot kbinfo KB943887

Microsoft KB Archive/943887

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