Remote Desktop – Auto Start Session on Workstation Login

remote-desktop-servicesterminal-server

I am setting up Remote Desktop Services for use by one of our remote offices. The workstations at the remote office are all Windows 7 Pro, joined to the domain. There is nothing installed on the local workstation othern than the Win7 OS. The remote and main office are linked via VPN.

The workers will login to the local workstation, using their domain login, then right now double click an icon on the desktop which will do the RDP to the Remote Desktop Server. This does work fine, but requires some user education.

Is there a way that when the user logs into the local workstation, it will start the RDP session right away and pass their username/password through as well?

Would using a thin client PC do what I am asking?

Thanks.

Best Answer

You should be able to accomplish this pretty easy.

  • Setup the client to auto start, use one of these methods.

    • Drop an RDP file or shortcut in their startup group or the system startup group.
    • Set a group policy that will automatically start the terminal server client at logon
      • GPO: User Configuration \ Admin Templates \ System \ Logon \ Run these programs at logon
      • The user will have a local desktop, and there may be a short delay between the display of the desktop and the client automatically launching.
    • Set mstsc as the windows shell
      • GPO: User Configuration \ Admin Templates \ System \ Custom User Interface
      • The down-side is that the user will not have a local environment, and when they disconnect their system will logout.

  • Enable RDC Client Single Sign-On for Remote Desktop Services.

Related Topic