Figure 11.1 Session virtualization using Remote Desktop Session Host
ENABLING A RICH DESKTOP EXPERIENCE USING RDSH
I’ve talked about configuration levels for the operating system, which should be
Server Core for most server uses, and Nano Server for some fabric components or
modern applications. For a session host that is providing an environment for a
user, the full graphical experience is required. In Windows Server 2012 R2, that
required the Server Graphical Shell configuration level, which provides the
graphical shell, Windows File Explorer, Internet Explorer, and more. For the
complete desktop experience of a client operating system, you would also enable
the Desktop Experience configuration level, which adds features such as themes,
Windows Media Player, Windows Store, and photo tools. It was really the only
time you should have enabled the Desktop Experience configuration level,
because it consumes more resources on the server operating system. However,
some applications require Desktop Experience, specifically for the graphical
codecs it includes.
In Windows Server 2016, the only way to get the graphic shell is with Desktop
Experience, and it must be set at installation time. Therefore, for the Remote
Desktop Session Hosts in your environment, make sure that Windows Server
(Desktop Experience) is the configuration level selected during the operating
system installation, as shown in the following image. Remember that in Windows
Server 2016, the configuration level cannot be changed post deployment.