Microsoft releases the Remote Desktop assistant

Microsoft released a small tool called the "Microsoft Remote Desktop assistant". For the average user it's sometimes unclear what exact steps to take to configure for example a home computer to allow Remote Access using RDP from another device, tablet et cetera. The Microsoft Remote Desktop assistant simplifies this proces. The Remote Desktop assistant configures Remote Connections, opens the Firewall ports needed and provides an easy link that other devices can use to set up the Remote Connection.

The installation is an easy to install Click Once application



After you accept the license terms you are ready to setup up Remote Access


Once the configuration is completed you will be provided with a several options that allow easy setup of the client.


In this case I saved the configuration file and send that via email to my phone. Opening the link on my phone results in opening the Microsoft Remote Desktop Client (available in the AppStore) and after entering credentials I'm able to connect.





The Remote Desktop assistant allows easy configuration of Remote Sessions using RDP in home scenario's.



Improved Remote Desktop Connection Broker Performance with Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Hotfix (KB3091411)

The Microsoft RDS Product team has released on important hotfix for RD Connection Broker performance running on Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016!

Have been waiting for this one to be released! Glad to see its now publically available!

“…Internal testing of the RD Connection Broker connection-handling code shows a significant improvement during logon storms and when adding/restarting RD Session Host servers to a farm. We also see similar improvements through internal testing of the end to end connection scenario via the Windows RD client (MSTSC).

Specific results include:

Logon Storm
- 100% connection success with initial burst of 100 connections at a rate of 2 connections per second
- 0.2 second average connection time through RD Connection Broker, down from over a minute

RDSH Add/Restart
- 100% success adding/restarting servers at rate of 1 server per second with 5 sessions per server
- 2 second average add/restart time, down from over thirty minutes

MSTSC End to End
- 100% connection success at a rate of 100 connections per minute
- 25 second average connection time, down from over seven minutes…”

More info: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/rds/archive/2015/12/15/improved-remote-desktop-connection-broker-performance-with-windows-server-2016-and-windows-server-2012-r2-hotfix-kb3091411.aspx

Direct link to KB3091411 : https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3091411

 

Azure RemoteApp Public Roadmap updates!

The Azure RemoteApp public roadmap was updated. Two new features have been announced for the April-March iteration Azure Resource Manager (ARM) support and Cloud Solution Provider (CSP)!

November updates to Azure RemoteApp

The RDS Product Team posted the November updates to Azure RemoteApp;

“…Within the month of November 2015, we released the following new features and capabilities for Azure RemoteApp:

• We’ve had a lot of feedback about our two new premium plans and yes both come with a five user minimum, read more about all our plans in the pricing page
• iOS and Android clients are now MAM enabled allowing them to be managed by Intune using Mobile Application Management, read more in our blog post Intune Mobile Application Management for Remote Desktop
• Learn about new pricing plans for EMS and existing RDS CAL with Software Assurance customers, you might qualify to purchase Azure RemoteApp for as low as $2 per user per month.
• Azure RemoteApp is now ISO 27001 certified!
• You can now Disable User Profile Disks (UPDs) in Azure RemoteApp, read more about the use cases and reasons why this might benefit your organization
• Office 2016 for Office 365 is not supported in Azure RemoteApp yet, we are completing final testing with Office team and will have new images published when ready along with support statement.
• Azure gallery and Azure RemoteApp images were updated with the latest Windows security updates
• iOS client was updated to version 8.1.15 which includes Intune MAM support, as well as fixes for Azure RemoteApp users who could not sign out easily.
• Android client was updated to include Intune MAM support
• Quick links for previous monthly updates for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October for Azure RemoteApp…”

Source & more info: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/rds/archive/2015/12/07/november-updates-to-azure-remoteapp.aspx