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1 2 Previous Next 15 Replies Last post: Aug 25, 2009 1:04 PM by bsando  

Modify the RDP settings with the View Client. posted: Mar 13, 2009 3:00 AM

Click to view jpallanore's profile Enthusiast 30 posts since
Feb 20, 2009
Hello all.

Is it possible to modify the RDP settings with the View Client (resolution, colors, ...) like the RDP client of Windows as it allows it ? View Client has just 2 options (port connection and SSL or not) by default.

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

Jean-Philippe


Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

1. Mar 13, 2009 3:09 AM in response to: jpallanore
Click to view Christoph Dommermuth's profile Expert 553 posts since
Jan 16, 2008

Yes you can do that.

You can use the standard GPO in the AD and you'll find ADM files on the View Manager Server: C:\Program Files\VMware\View Manager\Extras\GPO

Blog: http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/dommermuth

Click to view jmascone's profile Lurker 3 posts since
Oct 30, 2006
Thank you... i was going crazy looking for the VMWare View GPO ADM files... best regards...
Click to view HenrikElm's profile Hot Shot 354 posts since
Aug 26, 2005

I hope that a future VDI Client also contains this in the client GUI?

/Henrik

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

5. Jun 13, 2009 4:24 PM in response to: jpallanore
Click to view mnasir's profile Hot Shot 140 posts since
Jan 31, 2007
After testing for several days, we confirmed that some of the GPO settings are better to enabled on the base image, since these behavior should be consistent throughout the organization - we are using NON-Persistent desktop pool:

1. Prevent annoying IE 8 initial configuration on the first run
  • user Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Internet Explorer>Prevent performance of First Run Customize settings> Enabled

2.RDP session color depth 16 BIT
  • Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Terminal Services>Limit maximum color depth> Enabled:16

3.Disconnect RDP session if it is idle for 30 minutes
  • Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Terminal Services>Sessions>sets a time for active but idle Terminal Services sessions> Enabled:30 Minutes

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

6. Jul 2, 2009 11:00 PM in response to: HenrikElm
Click to view grossag's profile Hot Shot 229 posts since
Jul 3, 2006
Are there any specifically that you are looking for? Would you prefer that they be added to the Admin UI or the Client UI?

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

7. Jul 2, 2009 11:34 PM in response to: grossag
Click to view HenrikElm's profile Hot Shot 354 posts since
Aug 26, 2005

Well.. More or less the same settings as in the mstsc.exe client. Such as color depth, ability to choose bandwith-dependant settings such as background, font handling, window movement handling and such. Settings regarding the ability to see local volumes in the session is also good. More or less take a look at the mstsc settings, there you are.. ;-)

I guess the ideal is for the client to set this himself (sometimes on different bandwidths/networks) but we can set defaults/overrides if we want.

/Henrik

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

8. Aug 25, 2009 9:24 AM in response to: HenrikElm
Click to view bsando's profile Novice 8 posts since
Jun 18, 2009
I find it a little ridiculous that these cannot be set on the client. Many of our end users are "Work from Home" users who will load the client on their home PC, and remote into the office to their VMware View machine. So, since these users on not on a domain computer, they cannot change ANY of the expected setting like size, color depth, disable drive sharing with their host, etc.

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

9. Aug 25, 2009 9:30 AM in response to: bsando
Click to view grossag's profile Hot Shot 229 posts since
Jul 3, 2006
This probably doesn't help, but they can change these settings in the registry too. I can give more information if you think they would want to do that or you would want to write a .reg script to do it.

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

10. Aug 25, 2009 11:39 AM in response to: grossag
Click to view bsando's profile Novice 8 posts since
Jun 18, 2009
Yes. If they can be set in the registry, I can easily modify a script to do that. Please provide me with that info!

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

11. Aug 25, 2009 11:47 AM in response to: bsando
Click to view HenrikElm's profile Hot Shot 354 posts since
Aug 26, 2005
None of this should be necessary. VMware, create a "settings" tab in the View client!

/Henrik

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

12. Aug 25, 2009 11:51 AM in response to: HenrikElm
Click to view grossag's profile Hot Shot 229 posts since
Jul 3, 2006
Not that I'm saying that this isn't a good idea, but doing this is not as easy as you'd think. These settings are all specific to the protocol you use, which is chosen in the desktop selector. So it belongs in the desktop selector, which is already very cluttered.

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

13. Aug 25, 2009 12:35 PM in response to: grossag
Click to view bsando's profile Novice 8 posts since
Jun 18, 2009

We only use the MS RDP protocol, so a reg file will be fairly simple. All I want to do is shut off access to the local drives, and reduce the color depth to 15bit. Where Can I find info on the registry configuration?

Brad

Re: Modify the RDP settings with the View Client.

14. Aug 25, 2009 1:00 PM in response to: bsando
Click to view grossag's profile Hot Shot 229 posts since
Jul 3, 2006
You will need to create or open the following registry key on the client machine:

<HKLM or HKCU>\Software\Policies\VMware, Inc.\VMware VDM\Client\RDP Settings

That will be the parent key of all of the RDP settings for the client machine. HKLM overrides HKCU, which overrides each value's default.

Create a REG_SZ named "ColorDepth" set to "15"
Create a REG_SZ named "RedirectDrives" set to "false"

Here are some more values you can set in the "RDP Settings" key. I am pretty sure that every registry value can be REG_SZ, but a bool type will mean that the value data would be "true" or "false". For an integer, refer to the View Administrator Guide for the specific values (or do a google search because they map directly the values that the Microsoft RDP control uses).

Bools: "DisableWallpaper", "DisableFullWindowDrag", "DisableMenuAnimations", "EnableEnhancedGraphics", "DisableCursorShadow", "RedirectPrinters", "RedirectPorts", "RedirectSmartcards", "RedirectClipboard", "BitmapPersistence", "EnableCompression", "ShadowBitmap", "CachePersistenceActive", "RedirectPlugAndPlayDevices", "FontSmoothing", "DesktopComposition"
Integers: "AudioRedirectionMode", "KeyboardHookMode", "BitmapCacheSize", "BitmapVirtualCacheSize", "BitmapVirtualCache16BppSize", "BitmapVirtualCache24BppSize", "BitmapVirtualCache32BppSize"

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