A Generic Server-Based Desktop Architecture

All server-based desktops require similar infrastructure. This illustration shows the client and data center components of an infrastructure that provide users with server-based desktops (top), which could be running in server hosted virtual machines (VMs) or in server-based processes called sessions.

Client software (1) on the user’s device (left), such as Microsoft’s Remote Desktop client, finds and connects to the user’s server-based desktop in the data center (shaded region on right).

A protocol (2), such as Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol or RemoteFX, sends keyboard and mouse actions to the server-based desktop and sends images or the display of the executing application from the server-based desktop to the local device’s display.

A menu of server-based desktops (3) is provided by gateway software such as Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Gateway. The server-based desktops available to the user are determined by the authorization and authentication component (4), which is typically Microsoft’s Active Directory.