By default, a connection is automatically created and enabled on a computer running Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, even if the Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) role service is not installed on the computer. This connection is named RDP-Tcp and only allows a maximum of two simultaneous remote connections to the computer.
When you install the RD Session Host role service on the computer, the RDP-Tcp connection is changed to allow an unlimited number of simultaneous remote connections. For more information about configuring the number of simultaneous remote connections that a connection will allow, see Configure the Number of Simultaneous Remote Connections Allowed for a Connection.
Only one Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection can be configured for each network adapter installed on the RD Session Host server. Typically, the default RDP-Tcp connection is the only connection needed to support remote administration of the server or to support the RD Session Host role service. If you want to configure additional connections that use RDP, you must install an additional network adapter for each RDP connection that you want to create.
Use the following procedure to create a new connection.
Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, on the RD Session Host 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
 | To create a new connection |
On the RD Session Host server, open Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration. To open Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.
On the Action menu, click Create New Connection.
On the Welcome page of the Remote Desktop Services Connection Wizard, click Next.
On the Connection Protocol page, type the name for the connection. You cannot have two connections with the same name on the computer.
If there is more than one Connection Type available on the computer, select the appropriate one for your environment.
You cannot have more than one of the same Connection Type assigned to a given network adapter.
Click Next.
On the Network Adapter page, do the following:
- Select the network adapter that the connection will use. If you want the connection to use all network adapters available on the computer, select All network adapters configured with this protocol.
- Select the number of simultaneous remote connections that the connection will support.
- Select the network adapter that the connection will use. If you want the connection to use all network adapters available on the computer, select All network adapters configured with this protocol.
Click Next, and then on the Summary page, click Finish. The new connection will appear under Connections on the main page of Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.