Category: Windows Server 2016

RSAT: Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 10

On By windows7bugsIn Windows 10, Windows Server 2016Leave a comment

The last standalone package for Remote Server Administration Tools was released for Windows 10 Version 1803 & the same was integrated into Windows 10 as optional packages with later versions of Windows.

There are many detailed installation instructions floating over dozens of tech blogs and sites, explaining how to enable/install RSAT on Windows 10. Today we will go through a quick how to without breaking much sweat & details.

As a Windows Domain Administrator, I need the following features at times:

  1. Active Directory Users and Computers
  2. DNS Manager

For the rest, usually I use the remote desktop connection to domain controllers.

Please note, with each version of Windows 10, there might be minor changes with the way software is installed. Hence, make sure that you double check your version of Windows 10 before attempting the below instructions. These instructions are valid for Windows 10, Version 2004 with September 2020 cumulative updates.

Open Add or remove programs (Modern App management console)

Click on “Optional Features”

Click on “Add Feature” that will open up a list of available optional features. Remote Server Administration Tools or RSAT could be filtered by entering RSAT in the search area.

As I needed only “Active Directory users and computers” and “DNS Server” components, I chose them. You might need more components to be available to carry out your server administration. Choose everything that applies to your requirements & Press the “Install” button.

That’s all. Now you can access the features those were installed based on your selection from the start menu or by searching for them in the taskbar search box.

regards,

rajesh

Windows Server 2016 | Remote Desktop will not connect

On By windows7bugsIn Windows, Windows Server 20163 Comments

Hi guys

I started this blog when I started using Windows 7 initial release and was struck with end number of issues, mostly related networking.

I am turning my attention towards Windows OS, minimum for a while as I am dealing with another Windows OS, that is crap like no other times…Windows Server 2016, which, looks and feels like Windows 10 with server OS capacities (to certain extends). A totally screwed up Server OS which has half of the settings over modern layout and rest on the legacy

This time I am going to discuss about a peculiar situation that arises once after removing “Remote Desktop Services“ from Windows Server 2016 & trying to initiate a normal RDP session with the server.

It just won’t connect. That’s all. You check for the usual stuffs everywhere and realize that everything is set fine, firewall, permissions. Yet, you won’t able to connect.

After trying to fix “few” things myself, I gave up and started searching for some answers. One of the most interesting things I learned about Windows Server 2016 is, there are hardly any forums discussing anything at all about this particular OS. 99% of the results I am provided were either for Windows Server 2008  or 2012 & for few situations not a single result for 2016!

Anyway I landed on this thread

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/bb34981e-9489-4a0c-80fc-6fdea2cd5cd3/remote-desktop-not-working-after-uninstalling-remote-desktop-session-host-server?forum=winserverTS

& by the bottom of the page found a link to Dell site where a solution was provided for Windows Server 2012 R2 to recreate the RDP-TCP registry values. As I was dealing with a VM, which is already backup, I decided to give it a try

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln286475/how-to-recreate-or-add-an-additional-rdp-listener-in-windows-server-2012-and-2012-r2?lang=en

I’m copying the instructions here, for the reasons that the above link may not be available after a while.

1. Recreate the default RDP Listener
How to recreate the RDP listener.
1. Export the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
2. Delete the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
3. Copy and paste the below text into notepad, and save the file as RDP-Tcp.reg. Additionally, if the operating system is 2012 R2, another file will be required with the contents of the second box.

[code language=”text” gutter=”false”]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp]
“fInheritMaxIdleTime”=dword:00000001
“fPromptForPassword”=dword:00000000
“fResetBroken”=dword:00000000
“PdClass”=dword:00000002
“LoadableProtocol_Object”=”{5828227c-20cf-4408-b73f-73ab70b8849f}”
“UserAuthentication”=dword:00000001
“fDisableCam”=dword:00000000
“fInheritAutoLogon”=dword:00000001
“InteractiveDelay”=dword:00000032
“Domain”=””
“fInheritReconnectSame”=dword:00000001
“SelectTransport”=dword:00000000
“MinEncryptionLevel”=dword:00000002
“fInheritShadow”=dword:00000001
“WFProfilePath”=””
“fReconnectSame”=dword:00000000
“PdDLL”=”tdtcp”
“PortNumber”=dword:00000d3d
“PdFlag1″=dword:00000000
“WdName”=”Microsoft RDP 8.0”
“fInheritMaxSessionTime”=dword:00000001
“WdFlag”=dword:00000036
“SelectNetworkDetect”=dword:00000000
“fLogonDisabled”=dword:00000000
“MaxDisconnectionTime”=dword:00000000
“Callback”=dword:00000000
“PdDLL1″=”tssecsrv”
“NWLogonServer”=””
“MaxIdleTime”=dword:00000000
“fDisableEncryption”=dword:00000001
“fInheritCallback”=dword:00000000
“fDisableCcm”=dword:00000000
“ColorDepth”=dword:00000003
“PdName”=”tcp”
“fEnableWinStation”=dword:00000001
“OutBufLength”=dword:00000212
“PdFlag”=dword:0000004e
“CallbackNumber”=””
“CdClass”=dword:00000000
“Shadow”=dword:00000001
“fDisableCdm”=dword:00000000
“PdName1″=”tssecsrv”
“fInheritSecurity”=dword:00000000
“CdDLL”=””
“LanAdapter”=dword:00000000
“fInheritResetBroken”=dword:00000001
“CfgDll”=”RDPCFGEX.DLL”
“InitialProgram”=””
“fDisableClip”=dword:00000000
“InputBufferLength”=dword:00000800
“fAllowSecProtocolNegotiation”=dword:00000001
“fDisableAudioCapture”=dword:00000000
“Password”=””
“CdName”=””
“fDisableLPT”=dword:00000000
“CdFlag”=dword:00000000
“PdClass1″=dword:0000000b
“fAutoClientLpts”=dword:00000001
“fAutoClientDrives”=dword:00000001
“fInheritCallbackNumber”=dword:00000001
“OutBufCount”=dword:00000006
“fInheritMaxDisconnectionTime”=dword:00000001
“MaxInstanceCount”=dword:ffffffff
“KeyboardLayout”=dword:00000000
“fDisableExe”=dword:00000000
“AudioEnumeratorDll”=”rdpendp.dll”
“Username”=””
“KeepAliveTimeout”=dword:00000000
“fUseDefaultGina”=dword:00000000
“fHomeDirectoryMapRoot”=dword:00000000
“fInheritColorDepth”=dword:00000000
“fForceClientLptDef”=dword:00000001
“WorkDirectory”=””
“SecurityLayer”=dword:00000001
“DrawGdiplusSupportLevel”=dword:00000001
“WdPrefix”=”RDP”
“fInheritAutoClient”=dword:00000001
“fDisableCpm”=dword:00000000
“Comment”=””
“OutBufDelay”=dword:00000064
“fInheritInitialProgram”=dword:00000001
“MaxConnectionTime”=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\VideoRemotingWindowNames]
“AGFullScreenWinClass”=”*”
“MacromediaFlashPlayerActiveX”=”*”
“EVRVideoHandler”=”*”
“MicrosoftSilverlight”=”*”
“ShockwaveFlashFullScreen”=”*”

[/code]

Additional 2012 R2 values:

[code language=”text” gutter=”false”]
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp]
“UserAuthenticationBackup”=dword:00000000
“MaxMonitors”=dword:00000004
“MaxXResolution”=dword:00000a00
“MaxYResolution”=dword:00000640

[/code]

4. Double-click the RDP-Tcp.reg file and click Yes at the prompt.

Now, restart the box & you are back in the game once again.

Try it in case if you are “also” stuck & let me know about your experiences through comments.

regards,

rajesh