Configure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) properties on a host pool

To configure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) properties on a host pool in Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, you can leverage various settings to optimize and enhance the remote desktop experience. In this article, we’ll explore some of the key settings you can configure within a host pool to optimize RDP connections.

Configuring RDP Properties via Azure Portal

1. Go to the Azure portal (https://portal.azure.com) and navigate to your Azure Virtual Desktop resource.
2. Select “Host pools” from the left-hand menu and choose the desired host pool you want to configure.
3. Under the “Settings” section, select “Properties.”
4. In the “Properties” pane, you’ll find various settings that can be configured. Let’s explore a few important ones:

• User specific resolution: Enabling this setting allows each user to have a custom display resolution that matches their local device. In the RDP file, the span monitor option should be set to true for this to work effectively.
• Admin specific resolution: Similar to user-specific resolution, this option allows administrators to have a different display resolution than regular users. To use this setting, ensure the use multimon option in the RDP file is set to true.
• Audio capture redirection: Enables or disables audio capture redirection from the remote session to the local device. If this setting is enabled, audio from the remote session can be heard on the user’s local device.
• Device redirection: Allows users to redirect certain devices such as printers, USB drives, and smart cards to their remote session. Ensure the required device redirection options are enabled based on your needs.
• Clipboard redirection: Enables or disables the redirection of clipboard data between the local and remote machines. If enabled, users can copy and paste text or files between their local device and the remote session.
• Printer redirection: This setting enables users to redirect their local printers to the remote session, allowing them to print documents from their remote desktop.
• File redirection: Allows users to redirect files from their local device to the remote session and vice versa. Users can seamlessly access and transfer files between their local device and the remote session.

Configuring RDP Properties via PowerShell

If you prefer using PowerShell to configure RDP properties on a host pool, you can leverage the Set-RdsHostPool cmdlet to modify various settings. Here’s an example of how you can use PowerShell to enable audio capture redirection:

Set-RdsHostPool -TenantName "YourTenantName" -Name "YourHostPoolName" -ResourceGroupName "YourResourceGroupName" -AudioCaptureRedirectionEnabled $true

Replace the placeholders (YourTenantName, YourHostPoolName, and YourResourceGroupName) with your own values. Remember to use the Azure PowerShell module and authenticate with appropriate permissions before running the cmdlet.

Using similar syntax, you can modify other RDP properties by referencing the appropriate parameter names and specifying the desired values.

Conclusion

Configuring RDP properties on a host pool in Azure Virtual Desktop allows you to customize the remote desktop experience based on your requirements. Whether you need to optimize display resolutions, enable audio redirection, redirect devices, or configure other RDP settings, Azure Virtual Desktop provides a flexible and powerful platform for remote desktop access.

Remember to refer to the official Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop documentation for detailed information on the available RDP properties and their usage. Happy configuring!