Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktop includes all the great improvements made on the original 2012 edition and adds more administrative, remote user, and processing improvements to improve the user and administrator experience across the board. Some of the major features include:
- Access locally or remotely - Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktop lives up to its name and provides access to the server not just locally but remotely. In fact, as many features show below, remote access has improved dramatically in this edition, allowing workers to remain connected while away from the office more easily.
- Remote user improvements - There have been a number of major remote user improvements made in this edition of the Windows Server, which allow remote users to work as efficiently as they would in the office. These include:
- • Remote like local apps - Thanks to a number of improvements on the server (many of which are listed below) remote users can now access apps that will perform as well as they do in a local setting.
- • Better reconnect and bandwidth - Avoiding reconnection troubles while improving bandwidth allows for a smoother remote user experience, which again, improve the overall working ability of those users.
- • Single sign-on - Previous editions required multiple sign-ons as users moved around the server, now they can sign on once and remain connected, providing a better user experience while also removing the requirements on each program to hold credentials.
- Access on mobile devices - Many people rely on their mobile devices for their primary computing needs. Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktop now allows those mobile users to also connect to the server and enjoy all its advantages.
- Share more with Work Folders - Provide DropBox file sharing quality on your server with Work Folders. Work Folders provides secure, encrypted file replication. It stores the files both on individual computers and the server, and then syncs with them to make sure both are up to date.
- Configure more efficiently with PowerShell 4.0 - PowerShell 4.0 comes with a number of major improvements. Perhaps the biggest is the Desired State Configuration. With this, administrators can set standards across the server, which will then be monitored by the system to make sure these standards are kept. Updates are automatically performed to maintain these base standards.
- More powerful virtualization with Hyper-V - Hyper-V is now capable of using up to one TB of memory and 64 TB of virtual memory. This can be used to access up to 64 virtual processors. Other improvements include cloud backup, multi-tenancy on the server, and storage resource pools.
- Improved Live Migration - Live Migration allows for the transfer of virtual machines from host to host without any downtime or disconnection. Live Migration in the R2 edition now has improved speed (up to 20% faster) and processing power thanks to improvements in compression.
- Faster data access with Tiered Storage Space - Tiered Storage Space ensures faster access to the most popular programs. Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktop will now keep track of which data is accessed the most often and will move it into the fastest tier of data, allowing for the easiest access. This prioritization will improve the speed and efficiency of the whole system.
- More compression with Data De-Duplication - Data de-duplication removes duplicates from files, allowing for greater compression. Basic data deduplication was introduced before, but it has been expanded in Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktop to include Hyper-V virtual machines, speeding up many virtual machine processes.
- Integrates perfectly with Windows 8.1 - If your business is running Windows 8.1, Widows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktop is the best choice for your server. It integrates perfectly into the system. However, it is also possible to run Windows 7 or Windows 10 on the server.
- Accommodates Office 365 - If your business has upgrades its Office software with Office 365, there is no need to find another server. Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Server can accommodate Office 365.
With more remote access improvements and a more efficient server, providing device CALs for employees so they can access your Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktop from their chosen device will allow greater freedom away from the office desk while not impeding work efficiency.