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Getting Started with MultiPoint Server

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Applies To: Windows MultiPoint Server 2012

Your MultiPoint Server system allows many users to use multiple stations that are physically connected by using station hubs to only one computer. Each station typically consists of a station hub, mouse, keyboard, and video monitor. Each user at a MultiPoint Server station experiences a unique Windows computing session that you can manage using MultiPoint Manager.

The components of a MultiPoint Server system include the following:

  • MultiPoint Server system software, which supports multiple monitors, keyboards, mouse devices, and other devices on the computer.

  • The MultiPoint Manager application, which lets you monitor and take actions on MultiPoint Server stations.

  • Maintenance and management tools.

  • The MultiPoint Dashboard application, which lets you complete daily tasks, such as communicating with other users.

Information about how to manage MultiPoint Server stations with MultiPoint Manager and MultiPoint Dashboard is provided in this Help file.

Overview of MultiPoint Manager

MultiPoint Manager provides four tabs to use when you are managing the MultiPoint Server stations. Each tab, and the tasks that you can perform on them, is described in more detail in each Help topic.

The tabs are as follows:

  • Home tab: Switch modes to perform administrative tasks, add or remove MultiPoint servers, restart or shut down the computer, enable disk protection, add client access licenses, remap stations, and get help or support. For more information, see the Manage System Tasks Using MultiPoint Manager topic.

  • Stations tab: View users’ desktop status and end or suspend user sessions. For more information, see the Manage User Stations topic.

  • Users tab: Create and manage standard user accounts and administrative user accounts. For more information, see the Manage User Accounts topic.

  • Virtual Desktops tab: Enable virtual desktop roles. For more information, see the Manage Virtual Desktops topic.

MultiPoint Server management and maintenance

After your MultiPoint Server system is set up, you can use MultiPoint Manager to manage MultiPoint Server.

Types of actions you can perform using MultiPoint Manager include the following:

  • Adding user accounts: Use MultiPoint Manager to create standard and administrative user accounts.

  • Editing server settings: You can configure your MultiPoint Server system to start in console mode, allow an account to have multiple sessions, assign a unique IP address to each station, and other tasks.

  • Switching to console mode: You can change the MultiPoint Server system to console mode in order to install new software on your MultiPoint Server system. You can specify that all users can run the software, or that only you can use the software, depending on the installation and licensing options of the software.

  • Troubleshooting: If you experience problems with MultiPoint Server, check the Troubleshooting section to find topics that can help you fix the problem.

Overview of MultiPoint Dashboard

MultiPoint Dashboard features a ribbon experience where you can choose between two tabs to access common daily tasks.

The tabs are as follows:

  • Home tab: Block or unblock stations, set web limiting options, project desktops to other desktops, launch or close applications, communicate via instant messaging, assist other users through remote desktop control, adjust desktop thumbnail views, and enable or disable instant messaging and application auto-launch. For more information, see the Manage User Desktops Using MultiPoint Dashboard topic.

  • Systems tab: Restart, shut down, or remap either all or selected systems. For more information, see the Manage MultiPoint Systems Using MultiPoint Dashboard topic.

Daily use of your MultiPoint Server system

As you begin to use MultiPoint Server daily, there is information about how to use MultiPoint Server that you might want to share with the users on your MultiPoint Server system. This information includes the following:

Sharing content and keeping content private:

  • A user can save a file or document to a private folder that can be viewed only by that user.

  • Users can also save documents to a public folder that is accessible to all users on the MultiPoint Server system.

  • It is important for MultiPoint Server users to know that administrative users have access to all files and documents on the system, even if they are stored privately in a user’s personal folder.

For more information about how to save and manage private and public content, see the Manage User Files topic.

Information about a user’s MultiPoint Server session:

  • Each user has a user name and password, and a unique desktop session on the MultiPoint Server system.

  • A standard user is not an administrative user on the MultiPoint Server system. Standard users cannot install some types of software, but can save files and change desktop settings, except for the screen resolution. Any desktop changes the user makes are present when the user logs on again.

  • Users can disconnect from one station and log back on to their session on a different station without losing their work. For more information, see the Suspend and Leave User Session Active topic.

  • A standard user’s session (or all user sessions) can be disconnected or logged off by the administrative user through MultiPoint Manager. For more information, see the Manage User Desktops topic.

  • If a user forgets a password, you can reset the password from the Users tab, which uses standard Windows user account management functionality. For more information, see the Update or Delete a User Account topic.

See Also

Managing Your MultiPoint Server System
Important Information about Software License Compliance
Manage System Tasks Using MultiPoint Manager
Manage User Files
Manage User Desktops
Suspend and Leave User Session Active
View User Connection Status
Manage Station Hardware
Set Up a Station
Manage User Accounts
Update or Delete a User Account
Manage User Desktops Using MultiPoint Dashboard
Manage MultiPoint Systems Using MultiPoint Dashboard
Troubleshooting
Managing - Glossary