Windows Remote Desktop Services
With Remote Desktop Services (RDS), one of the core virtualization technologies
available in Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft is progressing in its vision to
provide the best virtualization platform for accelerating and extending desktop
and application deployments from the data center to any device. In addition to
the traditional session virtualization scenario (formerly known as “Terminal
Services”), Remote Desktop Services is expanding its role to provide an
extensible platform for a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).
Remote Desktop Services allows a user to access applications, data and even
an entire desktop running on a remote computer over a network. The client access
device can either be a full rich Windows personal computer, or a thin client
(such as Windows CE device). Remote Desktop Services works by allowing
individual applications or an entire desktop to run on a server, rather than on
the user’s workstation. Remote Desktop Services simply sends screen images to
the users, and the user’s machine in turn sends keystrokes and mouse movements
back to the server. By doing this, Remote Desktop Services allows clients to run
applications or desktop environments that they might otherwise not have the
hardware or bandwidth to support. On the server, applications and desktop
environments can either run as shared sessions, or in the context of a virtual
machine environment (aka virtual desktop infrastructure or VDI).
User CAL
A User CAL permits one user (using any device) to access or use the server
software. User CALs are likely to be more cost effective than Device CALs if
there are multiple devices per user (for example, a user has a laptop and
handheld computer accessing Windows Remote Desktop Services)
Maintenance
Software Assurance (SA) is Microsoft's maintenance program that provides product
support, software upgrades, and more.