RDP8 is not your Father's RDP... Some details about RDP8 For Win7 SP1, Win8, WinServer2008 R2, WinServer2012

My Thoughts On IT… - New Remote Desktop Client for Windows 7

RDP 8 the new protocol for Remote Desktops in Server 2012 has been released for Windows 7. This is not your typical just install a new client – so make sure you would benefit from updating to the new RDP8. To understand if this would help you  ask yourself are you Remoting  into a Windows 8, Windows 2012, or Windows 7 with RDP 8 installed machine? If the answer is yes, then it makes sense to do the upgrade.

Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 update for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2592687

There are a host of new features in the new RDP 8 protocol. These features are available when you use a client and host that is compatible with RDP 8.0.

This means that a computer that is running Windows 8, Server 2012, or Windows 7 SP1 with the RDP 8.0 update installed can connect to another computer that is running Windows 8, Server 2012, or Windows 7 SP1 with the RDP 8.0 update installed.

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Description of the Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 update for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

This article discusses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 8.0 update that enables you to use the new Remote Desktop Services features. These features were introduced in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 R2. These features are now available for computers that are running Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

New features in the RDP 8.0 update

New features for client computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

The RDP 8.0 update contains the following new features for client computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1:

• Remote Desktop Connection 8.0 client
• Dynamic In-Session USB Redirection
• Reconnect for RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
• Improved single sign-on experience for Remote Desktop Web Access
• Support for RemoteFX Media Redirection APIs for VoIP applications
• Support for Nested Sessions

New features for remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1

The RDP 8.0 update lets remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 use RDP 8.0. The update contains the following features for remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1: 

• RemoteFX for WAN
• RemoteFX Network Auto Detect
• RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics
• RemoteFX USB Redirection for non-RemoteFX vGPU virtual desktops
• Support for Nested Sessions
• Performance counters for monitoring the user experience

RDP 8.0 cannot be enabled for remote computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

Features that are made obsolete by this update

Features that are made obsolete in client computers

When RDP 8.0 is installed and enabled in client computers, all features are available.

Features that are made obsoleted in remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1

When RDP 8.0 is installed and enabled in remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1, the following features are unavailable:

• Monitoring an active session of another user remotely by using the Shadow command (Remote Control)
• Aero Glass Remoting

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New features in RDP 8.0 for Windows 7 SP1

This update introduces the following features for remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1:

• RemoteFX for WAN
  The RemoteFX for WAN feature enables users on WAN networks to have a fast and fluid experience by using advanced techniques such as intelligent and adaptive UDP transports, network loss tolerance, and recovery. For more information, go to the following Microsoft website:

  RemoteFX for WAN: Overview of Intelligent and Adaptive Transports in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

• RemoteFX Network Auto Detect
  The RemoteFX Network Auto Detect feature automatically detects network characteristics and optimizes user experience accordingly. For more information, go to the following Microsoft website:

  RemoteFX for WAN: Overview of Intelligent and Adaptive Transports in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

• RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics
  The RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics feature delivers a rich graphics experience that dynamically adapts to the server load, the client access device load, and network characteristics. For more information, go to the following Microsoft website:

  General information about RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8

• RemoteFX Media Streaming
  The RemoteFX Media Streaming feature lets users experience a smooth media experience on WAN networks for all media content formats. For more information, go to the following Microsoft website:

  General information about enabling a Seamless Multimedia Experience with RemoteFX Media Streaming in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8

• RemoteFX USB Redirection for non-RemoteFX vGPU virtual desktops
  The RemoteFX USB Redirection feature enables users to use USB devices with RemoteApp applications and remote desktops, even if the remote desktop computer does not have RemoteFX vGPU installed. For more information, go to the following Microsoft website:

  General information about RemoteFX USB Redirection in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8

• Support for Nested Sessions
  RDP 8.0 supports running a Remote Desktop Connection session within another Remote Desktop Connection session for specific scenarios.
  For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  2754550

  Running a Remote Desktop Connection session within another Remote Desktop Connection session is supported with Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 for specific scenarios

• Performance counters for monitoring the user experience
  Performance counters (RemoteFX Graphics and RemoteFX Network counter groups) let administrators monitor and troubleshoot user experience issues.

These features are available only when you use a client that is compatible with RDP 8.0. For example, a computer that is running Windows 8 or Windows 7 SP1 with the RDP 8.0 update installed can connect to another computer that is running Windows 7 SP1 with the RDP 8.0 update installed.

New features in the Remote Desktop Connection 8.0 client for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

The Remote Desktop Connection 8.0 update supports the following new features when you connect to a supported and appropriately configured server:

• Support for Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0
  The Remote Desktop Connection 8.0 update provides full support for RDP 8.0 and includes the following features: 
  • Remote for WAN 
  • RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics 
  • Remote Network Auto Detect 
  • RemoteFX Media Streaming
  
  This feature is available when you connect to computers that are running one of the following operating systems:
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows 7 with RDP 8.0 installed and enabled
    
• Dynamic In-Session USB Redirection
  The Dynamic In-Session USB Redirection feature enables users to select USB devices for redirection in the middle of a remote session. USB devices can be swapped between remote sessions or to the local computer. When the RemoteFX USB redirection feature is enabled, users can tap the Devices icon on the connection bar to select which devices are redirected.
  This feature is available when you connect to computers that are running one of the following operating systems:
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows 7 with the RDP 7.1 RemoteFX vGPU feature enabled
  • Windows 7 with RDP 8.0 installed and enabled
    
• Improved single sign-in experience for Remote Desktop Web Access
  This update simplifies and significantly improves the user experience by letting users provide their user name and password only one time when the users connect to IT published apps and desktops. Users are not prompted to provide their user name and password for successive connections. 
  For more information about how to configure Web Single Sign-On (web SSO), go to the following Microsoft website:

  Remote Desktop Web Access single sign-on now easier to enable in Windows Server 2012

  This feature is available only when you connect to Windows Server 2012 virtual-machine based deployments and session-based desktop deployments.

• Reconnect for RemoteApp and Desktop Connections
  The Reconnect for RemoteApp and Desktop Connections feature enables users to easily disconnect and reconnect to IT published apps and desktops.
  This feature is available to users when they use the RemoteApp and Desktop Connections feature to connect to Windows Server 2012 virtual machine-based desktop deployments and session-based desktop deployments.
  
• Support for RemoteFX Media Redirection APIs for VoIP applications
  The RemoteFX Media Redirection APIs feature enables applications such as Lync 2013 to deliver a rich audio and video conferencing experience. For more information, go the following Microsoft website:

  General information about Microsoft Lync 2013 (Preview) VDI Plugin

  This feature is available when you connect to computers that running one of the following operating systems:

  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
    
• Support for Nested Sessions
  RDP 8.0 supports running a Remote Desktop Connection session within another Remote Desktop Connection session for specific scenarios.
  For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  2754550

  Running a Remote Desktop Connection session within another Remote Desktop Connection session is supported with Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 for specific scenarios

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Besides all the new goodness that's in RDP8, the interesting parts were what was removed, Aero and Shadow. Aero I can see and that's just eye candy, but the Shadow removal might cause issues for those that use it.

So what do I dig about RDP8? The RemoteFX and Nested Sessions. The dynamic USB is kind of cool too...