Using Multipoint Services
Multipoint Services is a new role in Windows Server 2016, which is part of Remote
Desktop Services as a new deployment type, as shown in Figure 11.18. The Multipoint
Services role contains the functionality that was previously in the Windows
MultiPoint Server (WMS) 2012 separate product along with some enhancements.
Figure 11.18 MultiPoint Services RDS deployment type
WMS was aimed primarily at educational institutions for use in labs and classrooms.
WMS enables multiple users to share a single host computer by connecting multiple
keyboards, mice, and monitors to a single machine. Each user has their own Windows
10 experience, which should sound familiar to Remote Desktop Services users. WMS,
however, does not require connection brokers or gateways. It is a simpler deployment
and a simpler management experience with a great console, the MultiPoint
Dashboard, that enables the lab leader to easily see the screen output of everyone
connected and even orchestrate actions across them by launching (or even closing)
applications. WMS also typically costs less per user than an equivalent RDSH full
deployment because the clients can use the zero client hubs, which are between $20
and $50 as compared to more expensive RDP thin clients and desktops. WMS also has
disk protection that restores the server to a known good state every time the machine
is rebooted, which is useful in classroom environments. The goal is for the users to be
in close proximity to the WMS instance. WMS can run as a server-shared OS mode,
like RDSH, or it can provide a VDI-in-a-box solution once the customer provides the
Windows 10 (or older) media.