High Availability Of Remote Desktop Web Access Using Network Load Balancing

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to achieving high availability for Remote Desktop Web Access (RD Web Access) using Network Load Balancing (NLB) on Windows Server 2019. By following these instructions, you will be able to set up a robust system that ensures users can access remote desktop services seamlessly, even if one server goes down.

Step 1: Deploy Remote Desktop Web Access Role on Two Servers

• Prepare the Servers: Ensure you have two Windows Server 2019 machines ready for configuration.
• Install RD Web Access Role:
  • Open Server Manager on both servers.
  • Select Add Roles and Features.
  • Follow the wizard, and when prompted, choose the Remote Desktop Services role.
  • Select Remote Desktop Web Access and complete the installation process on each server.

Step 2: Install Network Load Balancing Feature

• Access Server Manager:
  • On both servers, go to Server Manager.
• Add Features:
  • Select Add Roles and Features.
  • In the wizard, navigate to the Features section.
  • Check the box for Network Load Balancing and install it on both servers.

Step 3: Configure the NLB Cluster

• Open NLB Manager:
  • On one of the servers, open Network Load Balancing Manager from the Tools menu in Server Manager.
• Create a New Cluster:
  • Right-click on Network Load Balancing Clusters and select New Cluster.
  • Enter the IP address to be used for the cluster and configure the settings as needed.
• Add Hosts to the Cluster:
  • In the cluster properties, add both servers as hosts to the cluster.

Step 4: Assign Cluster IP and Fully Qualified Domain Name

• Set Cluster IP:
  • Ensure the cluster has a dedicated IP address that clients will use to access RD Web Access.
• Configure DNS:
  • Assign a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) to the cluster IP to make it easier for users to connect.

Step 5: Enable MAC Spoofing on Each Server

• Virtual Machine Settings:
  • If your servers are running as virtual machines, enable MAC spoofing in the virtual machine settings to allow the NLB feature to function correctly.
• Hypervisor Configuration:
  • Depending on the hypervisor (e.g., Hyper-V, VMware), locate the settings for the virtual network adapter and enable the MAC spoofing option.

Step 6: Test the High Availability Setup

• Simulate Node Failures:
  • Manually take down the first server (node) and ensure that traffic is still directed to the second server.
  • Reverse the process by bringing the first node back online and taking down the second node.
• Access RD Web Access:
  • From a client machine, navigate to the cluster’s FQDN and confirm that you can access the RD Web Access page in both scenarios.

Conclusion

You have now successfully configured high availability for Remote Desktop Web Access using Network Load Balancing on Windows Server 2019. This setup ensures that users can consistently access remote desktop services without interruption. If you encounter any issues, consider revisiting each step for accuracy, or reach out for assistance through the KapTechPro support channels. Next steps could include exploring additional features of Remote Desktop Services or scaling your setup further.