Step-by-Step Guide for Configuring Group Policy for Terminal Services

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Terminal Services provides configuration operations on a per-computer basis. Group Policy combined with Terminal Services provides central administration of terminal servers and remote desktop clients.

The basic scenario of this guide provides a way to assign the same user settings to all users logging on to Terminal Services. When not logged on to Terminal Services, users should see their normal configuration settings. Group Policy uses the loopback mechanism to apply the same consistent desktop to all Terminal Services users.

The basic scenario is then extended to assign the same user settings to all users logging on to Terminal Services while exempting domain administrators from these settings. This approach makes remote administration possible for domain administrators while providing a consistent logon experience for Terminal Services users.