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tssk
Asked: 2012-01-27 22:42:43 +0800 CST

How to start single application with Remote Desktop on Windows 2008 R2

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we have a new Windows Server Standard 2008 R2 (no domain, no AD) and I am tring to configure Terminal Services/Remote Desktop connection to allow start just single application and not entire desktop for cerntain users.

I am trying to do it by setting Start the following program on connection (Windows XP)/Start only the following Windows-based application... (Mac OS X Lion) in users RDP file. But it does not work as it worked with Windows 2003 server. And it always shows the entire desktop.

Remote Desktop role is installed on the server, licensing type was not yet selected.

remote-desktop windows-server-2008-r2

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    You are looking for the RemoteApp feature in Windows Server 2008 R2. It will start a remote desktop session that appears as a single application window.

    If your users are meant not to have access to other applications on the terminal server, certain Group Policy settings (including Software Restriction Policies) are necessary. By itself, RemoteApp is not designed to securely limit users to a single application.

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  2. Without a domain, and group policies, I think you will find this is very difficult.

    If you were using group policies, I would suggest you set this policy.

    User Configuration/Policies/Administrative Templates/System/Custom User Interface

    Without group policy, You could force every session to a particular application by setting the shell in the registry.

    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell

    The option when you are using 2008 R2 or above is to use a RemoteApp, but this does require that your a newer client. I don't believe your OSX client will support RemoteApps.

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