Now publicly available: Creating Azure RemoteApp templates using Azure IaaS!

Another great release on the Azure RemoteApp platform! Just a few days ago we had the release of the ability to manage Azure RemoteApp using Powershell. And today another big improvement we have been waiting for:

We can now create Azure RemoteApp Template images using Azure Infrastructure as a service (IaaS). This is a huge step in the process of simplifying the procedure to add a custom image containing your custom applications!

Little background info, a Azure RemoteApp collection can be created using two options in regards to the template image. You can use one of the pre-created template images that Microsoft supplies (and maintains) containing a default set of applications, or you can create and use your own image to be able to publish custom (LOB) applications. Prior to today, the only way to provide your own image was to create it locally and then upload it to Azure. Depending on the available bandwidth this could take hours to complete! Why not leverage Azure IaaS and use the Azure template image library? This is exactly what’s now available!

We as RDS MVPs have been able to play with the option in a private beta, but its publicly available as of now!

Check out the details in the annoucement the RDS Product team just did here:
How to create a RemoteApp template image in Azure

Big compliment for the Remote Desktop Team!

Manage Azure RemoteApp using PowerShell!

We’ve been waiting for this one! The Azure PowerShell team has just released version 0.8.15. This version contains a new module that allows managing Azure RemoteApp using PowerShell!

Get the latest version here: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9811175&clcid=0x409

The commands related to Azure RemoteApp are all in it, for example:

 

Prior to this availability, I was already able to play with it when the commands were still in beta, they were contained in a separate module. To get an overview of all the commands related to Azure RemoteApp type get-command -noun azureremoteapp*

 

The product team will also release a announcement on this soon!

Printing preferences window appears behind a RemoteApp window

A new KB () was released related to Printer preference dialogs launched via RemoteApps. Since it’s also applicable to Windows Server 2012 R2, it’s most likely also applicable to Azure RemoteApp.

“…This article describes an issue that occurs when you select a printing preferences option of a redirected printer in RemoteApp in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) with Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 with RDC 8.1, Windows 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2. A hotfix is available to resolve this issue. The hotfix has a prerequisite.

Assume that you use a redirected printer to print in a RemoteApp window, and you select the local printing preferences option. In this situation, the printing preferences window appears behind the RemoteApp window…”

Download: http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/3036965/en-us?sd=rss&spid=14134#prerequisites

“Remote Desktop Service is currently busy” when you log on to an application in Windows Server 2008 R2

For those still using RDS on Windows Server 2008 R2; a new KB was released (3014783) that fixes the “The task you are trying to do can't be completed because Remote Desktop Service is currently busy” issue. (Need help moving to 2012R2? let me know! :)

“…This article describes a problem that occurs when you log on to a computer in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. A hotfix is available to resolve this problem. The hotfix has a prerequisite.

When you log on to a Windows 2008 R2-based server and access an application by using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), you receive one of the following error messages:

• The task you are trying to do can't be completed because Remote Desktop Service is currently busy.

• The Group Policy Client failed the logon.

This problem occurs because of a synchronization issue in the user profile service (profsvc) between the work thread and the main service routine. When the user profile service stops, the service might still be busy trying to clean up the profiles…”

download: http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/3014783/en-us?sd=rss&spid=14134

Remote Desktop app for Windows Phone now supports Gateway and Remote Resources

David Bélanger from the Microsoft RDS product team released a blog post in regards to a new release of the Windows Phone Remote Desktop App, now supporting RD Gateway & Remote Resources! Available now in the store!

Details: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/rds/archive/2015/03/04/remote-desktop-app-for-windows-phone-now-supports-gateway-and-remote-resources.aspx