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Introduction to Remote Desktop Server

Servers​

A server is a computer designed to provide services, data, or resources to other computers, called clients, over a network.

A desktop or laptop can act as a server, but it is not designed for sustained workloads, high availability, or reliability.

Physical vs Virtual Servers​

  • One physical machine
  • One operating system
  • High performance but less flexible
  • Requires a server operating system (e.g., Linux, Windows Server)

Virtual Server (Virtual Machine / VM)​

  • Multiple servers running on one physical machine
  • Uses virtualization (via a hypervisor)
  • More cost-effective and scalable
  • Supports multiple isolated operating systems

Server Design Principles​

Servers should be:

  • Redundant (no single point of failure)
  • Equipped with RAID storage (often hot-swappable drives)
  • Have redundant power supplies and network adapters
  • Built for continuous operation

Common Server Types​

  • Web server: hosts websites
  • Database server: stores and manages data
  • Email server: handles email services

These roles can run on separate servers or be combined on the same physical infrastructure, depending on scale and requirements.

What is an RDS Server?​

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a Windows Server technology from Microsoft that allows multiple users to remotely access desktops or applications hosted on a centralized server using RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).

RDS enables many users to log in at the same time to the same Windows Server, each receiving an isolated session while sharing the underlying operating system and hardware resources

RDS is essentially: Multiple user accounts logged into the same computer simultaneously.

Each user:

  • Logs in with their own account
  • Has their own profile (C:\Users\Username)
  • Has their own registry hive
  • Cannot see or control other users
  • The difference from a normal PC is:

A normal Windows PC usually allows only one active user; Windows Server + RDS allows many active users at once

RDS vs VDI (Key Difference)​

RDS (Session-Based)

  • Many users share one OS
  • Lightweight and resource-efficient
  • Centralized management
  • Best for task workers and shared apps

VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)

  • Each user gets their own virtual machine
  • Uses a hypervisor to create isolated desktops
  • Feels like each user has their own laptop
  • More flexible, but more resource-intensive