Check out the latest Terminal Services features in Longhorn from MSTerminalServices.org and Patrick Rouse:
Microsoft as added an impressive list of new features to Windows Terminal Services in LHS Beta 3. In this article I'll describe each feature and the problems it addresses. Since this is based on Longhorn Server Beta 3 (build 6001), features in this article are subject to change when LHS is released to manufacturing (RTM).
End User Features
- TS Easy Print – A new XPS Based Universal Printer introduced in LHS Beta 3, for XP SP2, Vista and Longhorn Clients with .Net Framework 3.0 SP1 and Remote Desktop Client 6.1. In previous versions there had to be a Printer Driver Match between the Terminal Server and Remote Desktop Client device for client printers to successfully auto-create. In 2003 SP1 a Group Policy Setting was added to enable a Terminal Server Fallback Printer Driver (PCL or Postscript), but this added only the functionality of this least-common-denominator driver. With the XPS Based TS Easy Print functionality, printing functions are proxied to the client’s local printer driver, so an application can print using the full functionality of the client’s local printer driver.
- Per-Session Default Printer – This feature ensures that different sessions logged on with the same user name retain session specific default printers. In previous versions, if two users were logged onto a Terminal Server with the same name, users changing of their default printer would affect all sessions logged on with the same credentials. This could cause application problems, or even a print-out being sent to the incorrect user’s printer.
- Plug and Play Device Redirection (for Media Players and Digital Cameras) – This feature allows for connection of Windows-based Multimedia Devices based on the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) or Cameras based on the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP).
- Microsoft Point of Service for .NET Device Redirection – Installing this service on a Longhorn Terminal Server allows Microsoft POS Applications to interact with a locally connected Microsoft POS for .NET device
- Single Sign-On / Credentials Pass-thru – This feature allows Vista or Longhorn Server domain member clients to log on to Remote Desktop Applications using their domain credentials (password or smart-card token) without being prompted for these credentials by the RemoteApp.
- Enhanced Remote Desktop Display – The 6.x Remote Desktop Clients now support 32 bit color depth, Font Smoothing (ClearType) & Multiple Monitor Spanning up to 4096 x 2048 pixels. This is particularly helpful for computers that ship with a wide-screen (16:9) display larger than 1600x1200 pixels, and applications that require 32 bit color depth, i.e. Medical Imaging (PACS).
- Terminal Services RemoteApp – This feature provides Seamless Windows & Session Sharing functionality to users with Remote Desktop Client 6.x, connecting to a Longhorn Terminal Server. Seamless Windows means that a end user launches a Remote Desktop Application without the explorer.exe shell, or Remote Desktop Client Window Border, so the application looks and acts like a local application. Session sharing means that multiple seamless application launched against the same Terminal Server will connect to the same Terminal Server Session. This is particularly important to reduce Terminal Server Resources, and when applications need to share data
Check out the rest of the features in the original article, here.