You must install the RD Connection Broker role service on the server that you want to use to track user session information for a load-balanced RD Session Host server farm. The server where you install the RD Connection Broker role service does not have to be an RD Session Host server or have Remote Desktop enabled.

You can use a single RD Connection Broker server to track user sessions across multiple farms, as there is minimal performance overhead.

When you install the RD Connection Broker role service, the following changes occur on the local computer:

Installation prerequisites

The server where you install RD Connection Broker must be a member of a domain.

Note

If you install the RD Connection Broker role service on a domain controller, the Session Broker Computers group will be a domain local group and available on all domain controllers.

Installation procedure

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, on the RD Connection Broker server that you plan to configure, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477.

To install the RD Connection Broker role service

  1. On the server on which you want to install the RD Connection Broker role service, open Server Manager. To open Server Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.

  2. If the Remote Desktop Services role is not already installed:

    1. Under Roles Summary, click Add Roles.

    2. On the Before You Begin page of the Add Roles Wizard, click Next.

    3. On the Select Server Roles page, select the Remote Desktop Services check box, and then click Next.

    4. On the Remote Desktop Services page, click Next.

    5. On the Select Role Services page, select the Remote Desktop Connection Broker check box, and then click Next.

    If the Remote Desktop Services role is already installed:

    1. Under Roles Summary, click Remote Desktop Services.

    2. Under Role Services, click Add Role Services.

    3. On the Select Role Services page, select the Remote Desktop Connection Broker check box, and then click Next.

  3. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, confirm that Remote Desktop Connection Broker is listed, and then click Install.

  4. On the Installation Progress page, installation progress will be noted.

  5. On the Installation Results page, confirm that installation for the RD Connection Broker role service succeeded, and then click Close.

Additional references

  • Checklist: Create a Load-Balanced RD Session Host Server Farm by Using RD Connection Broker
  • Add Each RD Session Host Server in the Farm to the Session Broker Computers Local Group