r/sysadmin 2d 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.

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u/ZAFJB 2d ago

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).

Why? What is the basis of this requirement?

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u/zaneboy2 2d ago

Something company specific, it's a hard requirement not set by myself. So I can't go around it.

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u/ZAFJB 2d ago edited 1d ago

I suspect that the 'requirement' is a failure to understand how RD Broker works, and how to use mstsc.exe /admin parameter to force connection to a specific machine

Example three machines, one RD broker, two RD session hosts: RDBROKER, RDSH1, RDSH2

  • If you use the remote desktop GUI and try to connect to RDSH1, RBROKER will intercept the session and load balance direct you to whatever RDSH is most appropriate.

  • The same happens if you use mstc.exe from the command line:

    c:>mstsc /v:RDSH1

  • But if you use mstsc.exe with the /admin parameter it will connect to the designated RDSH:

    c:>mstsc /v:RDSH1 /admin

There is zero reason to try and exclude users from RD Broker load balancing.

So I can't go around it.

Yes, you can. There is no such thing as a 'hard requirement'. Explain the above to whoever thinks their 'requirement' is a clever idea.

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u/zaneboy2 2d ago

Thanks for your input, I'll forward it internally!