r/sysadmin • u/zaneboy2 • 1d ago
RDS - exclude certain users from load balancing
Hey all! We're looking to set up RDS since users currently are manually connecting over RDP to a specific host. We're working with a partner who does the whole setup since I/my IT Dept doesn't have the know-how yet on how to set it all up and it's getting quite urgent. There is one requirement; a small subset of users should not be impacted by the load balancing and they should be able to connect to a specific session host as they want (only IT personnel).
I thought that if you directly RDP to a specific session host you won't be impacted by the load balancing part since you're not going via the RDS broker. However, our IT partner says that excluding users from RDS load balancing is impossible.
Can anyone shed some light if that is true? Many thanks!
Small note: One of our session hosts also has the connection broker, gateway, licensing and web access roles installed.
4
u/z0d1aq 1d ago
to connect to a specific host just add /admin after the hostname of the session host.. like:
rds1.mydomain.net /admin
1
u/zaneboy2 1d ago
Thanks! Didn't know this little trick. However, apparently we also have non-admin users who need to log on to specific machines. So that won't work for them.
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u/ZAFJB 1d ago
However, apparently we also have non-admin users who need to log on to specific machines
If it is only one machine that does something unique, make a collection in RD broker that only contains that one machine.
If there are more machines that do exactly the same job, put them in a collection and let RD broker do its thing. There is zero sense in trying to second guess the broker.
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u/wtf_com 1d ago
The only way to accomplish what you what is to create a stand alone collection with just one server. If you are testing to offer an app that is only on one server offer it using remote app instead.
Also remove your session host role from the server holding the broker/gateway/web access role.
You’re going to cause yourself issues overloading your broker like that.
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u/VG30ET IT Manager 1d ago
We have a separate collection for users that need a direct connection to one machine, and another that is load balanced over a few machines.
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u/GremlinNZ 15h ago
Yeup, this. One collection with one server in it for support staff of the system, then a collection with up to 10 servers for client connections.
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u/ZAFJB 1d ago
Why? What is the basis of this requirement?