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Asked: 2014-06-11 12:03:37 +0800 CST

Can I install applications to Remote Desktop Session Hosts via Group Policy?

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I have a GPO that installs an application using the Software installation policy under Computer Configuration. I assign this GPO to the OU with our desktop/laptop computers, and my clients all install the software fine.

I have another separate OU that covers our new Server 2012 RD session hosts. Previously, we've manually installed applications on our one Terminal Server. Now we have one Broker and two Session Hosts. I'd like to take my existing GPO, assign it to the session hosts, and have it install on the next reboot after a gpupdate so I'm sure that each is identically configured.

Given this info:

  1. Should I be able to install applications via GPO to Session Hosts?
  2. Will Group Policy automatically install the applications as if I put the session host into /install mode, or do I need to do that?
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1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    See my comment on why this is a bad idea.

    That being said:

    1. Yes, it should work.
    2. Yes, the windows installer service knows that it's running on RDS and automatically kicks in installation mode (GPO installs are .MSI-only)
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