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MDec_224637's avatar
MDec_224637
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Oct 07, 2015

F5 and Microsoft RDS RemoteApp

Hello,

 

Has anyone implemented an F5 device with MS RemoteApp? Our RDS solution is basically as follows:

 

 

We currently have 12 RDS session host servers split across 2 RDS Collections, based upon AD group membership, users get directed to either of the 2 Collections.

 

I have been investigating the possibility of integrating a HA pair of F5 devices to eliminate any single points of failure and to allow for non user impacting patching, maintenance etc. I have found the below document, scenario 5 looks like it could be what we are looking for. Ideally an F5 could entirely replace the RDG and RDC roles, the F5 would interact directly with the RDS session host servers themselves.

 

MS does have the capability to add additional RDG and RDC servers but requires SQL, in turn to be resilient this would need to be an SQL cluster requiring additional servers and expensive licensing.

 

https://www.f5.com/pdf/deployment-guides/f5-microsoft-remote-desktop-services-dg.pdf

 

Grateful for any response from anyone else who has implemented a similar solution or had similar experiences.

 

APM
application delivery
availability
design
devops
iApps
iRules
security

4 Replies

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  • Greg_Crosby_319's avatar
    Greg_Crosby_319
    Historic F5 Account
    Oct 07, 2015

    Hi Mdec,

     

    Currently there are 2 solutions available, one that replaces or load balances RD gateway services and one that load balances RD session hosts.

     

    F5 supported and F5 contributed iApp templates

     

    LB RD Session Hosts

     

    LB or Replace RD Gateway

     

    A more complete solution, one where APM replaces RDG, replaces or interacts with RDWeb access, and interacts with RDC to make decisions on which session host based on user selection, is on the road map for next year. Watch for 12.1 release to see these feature adds.

     

  • MDec_224637's avatar
    MDec_224637
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Oct 08, 2015

    Thanks Greg, we really want to avoid the requirement for an SQL cluster due to licence costs.

     

    With regards to the 12.1 release - will this remove the requirement for the MS RDG and RDC roles and allow the F5 to control the resource collections and work directly with RDS session hosts?

     

    Thank you.

     

    • Greg_Crosby_319's avatar
      Greg_Crosby_319
      Historic F5 Account
      Oct 08, 2015
      APM can be used to replace RDG but RDC will continue to be required to manage user desktop and published application (session host) assignments. APM will, however, be able to communicate with RDC and present available resources to users along with proxy RDP connections after users select a resource.
  • MDec_224637's avatar
    MDec_224637
    Icon for Nimbostratus rankNimbostratus
    Oct 08, 2015

    Thanks again, that's a shame as ideally we would like to eliminate the requirement for the RDC but it still appears that this is going to be a fundamental requirement even with 12.1.

     

    We have found that the RDG role has no preference, you can have one or more in the farm and regardless on source connection each server will route you to an available RDC and then this routes you onto RDS session host.

     

    However, it appears that the only way to gain HA RDC, SQL is required.