Windows Server 2016 Remote Desktop Services

[OBasel]

I'm considering making a lightweight VDI solution for a few users. Size wise ~10 now, 20 max before we'd be doing an overhaul anyway.

VMware and Citrix are leaders in the space, I get it. I also know both AWS and Microsoft have cloud desktops. I want to do my research first though.

How "bad" is Windows Server 2016 RDS? If I had a dual E5 V3/ V4 server can that handle remote desktops for 10 users? No 3D acceleration needed. Just Chrome accessing a simple web application that is otherwise behind a VPN. I'm not worried about performance as much as I'm worried about features.

Can you do things like setup desktop links/ shared storage easily? What about remote access on phones/ tablets?

 

[cesmith9999]

it all should work. your count of VM's will primarily depends on how much ram you have or if you decided to use dynamic mamory.

Chris

 

[OBasel]

Thank you @cesmith9999

I may give it a go. It's just expensive tech to try.

 

[T_Minus]

Are they special CALs or can you just buy the cheap $15 Server 2016 licenses on ebay and test with like 5 of those? Or what about 2016 DC License? (I know 0 about windows/enterprise licensing just some ideas.)

 

[i386]

Windows server licensing is very complex, Microsoft offers a certification + exam just for licensing for larger enterprises.

 

[NetWise]

Thank you @cesmith9999

I may give it a go. It's just expensive tech to try.

The software isn't. Use a 180 day trial of Windows Server 2016, and leverage the 90 days temporary RDS CAL's prior to needing to activate a licensing server

 

[Evan]

RDS works fine on a LAN/fast-big WAN, Citrix has big advantages over bigger latency links and lower bandwidth. (Of course all the application publishing etc is just easier on Citrix and the netscaler gateways are better for security than anything much that's done with RDS, again wan/internet relevant only)

 

[Net-Runner]

We are using Windows Server 2016 RDS for half a year already (currently 25 employees) and it works completely fine. Probably for larger deployments you might consider an alternative since native RDS is quite CPU/RAM hungry still should be a great fit for your mentioned workload.