I've got my Remote Desktop Services (RDS) set up and running smoothly, and I can connect to the server via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). However, I want my thin client to automatically boot straight into the RDP session — like a regular desktop experience. I'm struggling to find any guides or instructions besides the usual setup of loading the thin client and connecting via RDP. My goal is to eventually transition this to a cloud-based Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) in Azure, but for now, I'm just experimenting locally. I assume the setup will be similar, possibly involving a boot image file to point either on-prem or to Azure. I'm looking for some help to nail down this part of the process.
3 Answers
To achieve this, you’ll need to modify the configuration file of your thin client. I used a tool called Wyze Manager for my specific setup, and it worked well! This tool simplifies the process of connecting automatically to your RDP session, saving you from extra steps.
The specific thin client you have will really determine how you can set it up. If you're looking for a free solution, I shared a project called User Friendly ThinClient that turns regular PCs into thin clients. It’s open-source and quite easy to set up, regardless of how many devices you have. Just a heads up, if you’re using Azure VDI, the requirements differ quite a bit from a normal RDP setup. You might need to tweak settings for some features like Network Level Authentication, which complicates booting right to the desktop. But you can definitely get close to that experience by customizing the login screen to make it user-friendly!
That sounds interesting! Do you have a link to that project?
The setup process very much varies based on which thin client you're using, as different models and their operating systems provide diverse methods for configuration. What model do you have?
I'm playing around with a Dell Wyse.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely check out Wyze Manager!