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Group Policy Settings and Configuring the Client Experience

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

During the installation of the RD Session Host role service in Server Manager, you can automatically configure the following functionality on the Configure Client Experience page in the Add Roles Wizard:

  • Audio and video playback

  • Audio recording redirection

  • Desktop composition

Server Manager automatically checks that there are no Group Policy settings currently being applied to the computer that would prevent the requested functionality from being correctly configured. If there is a Group Policy setting being applied to the computer that would prevent the requested functionality from being correctly configured, that selection will be dimmed and you will not be able to select the associated check box on the Configure Client Experience page.

The following is a list of Group Policy settings that Server Manager checks:

  • Allow audio and video playback redirection

    If the Allow audio and video playback redirection Group Policy setting is disabled, you cannot select the Audio and video playback check box on the Configure Client Experience page.

    This Group Policy setting is located in Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Device and Resource Redirection.

  • Allow audio recording redirection

    If the Allow audio recording redirection Group Policy setting is disabled, you cannot select the Audio recording redirection check box on the Configure Client Experience page.

    This Group Policy setting is located in Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Device and Resource Redirection.

  • Allow desktop composition for remote desktop sessions

    If the Allow desktop composition for remote desktop sessions Group Policy setting is disabled, you cannot select the Desktop composition check box on the Configure Client Experience page.

    This Group Policy setting is located in Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Remote Session Environment.

  • Limit maximum color depth

    If the Limit maximum color depth Group Policy setting is enabled and the maximum color depth selected is less than 32 bits per pixel, you cannot select the Desktop composition check box on the Configure Client Experience page.

    This Group Policy setting is located in Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Remote Session Environment.

These Group Policy settings can be configured by using either Local Group Policy Editor or the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).

For more information about Group Policy settings for Remote Desktop Services, see the Remote Desktop Services Technical Reference (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=138134).

Additional references