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Terminal Services

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Terminal Services provides technologies that enable access to a server running Windows-based programs or the full Windows desktop. Users can connect to a terminal server to run programs, save files, and use network resources on that server.

Hierarchy of Managed Entities

Managed Entities

Name Description

Terminal Server

Terminal Server is a Terminal Services role service that supports sharing of Windows-based programs or the full Windows desktop. Users can connect to a terminal server to run programs, save files, and use network resources on that server.

TS Licensing

Terminal Services Licensing (TS Licensing) is a Terminal Services role service that manages the Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs) that are required for each device or user to connect to a terminal server. You use TS Licensing to install, issue, and track the availability of TS CALs on a Terminal Services license server.

TS Gateway

Terminal Services Gateway (TS Gateway) is a role service that enables authorized remote users to connect to resources on an internal corporate or private network, from any Internet-connected device that can run the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client. The network resources can be terminal servers, terminal servers running Terminal Services RemoteApp programs, or computers with Remote Desktop enabled.

TS Session Broker

Terminal Services Session Broker (TS Session Broker) is a Terminal Services role service in Windows Server 2008 that supports session load balancing between terminal servers in a farm, and reconnection to an existing session in a load-balanced terminal server farm.

Note:  TS Session Broker was formerly called Terminal Services Session Directory.

TS Web Access

Terminal Services Web Access (TS Web Access) is a Windows Server 2008 role service that enables users to visit a Web site (either from the Internet or from the intranet) to access a list of available TS RemoteApp programs. To start a RemoteApp program, users just click the program icon. When the RemoteApp program starts, a Terminal Services session is started on the terminal server that hosts the RemoteApp program.