This step by step guide will show you how to install an SSL Certificate on Remote Desktop Services [RDS]. You will also learn a few interesting facts about RDS, and discover the best place to shop for any type of SSL Certificates. If you still havent generated your CSR [Certificate Signing Request] and passed the SSL authentication, refer to the CSR Generation tutorials in the first part of this guide.
Generate a CSR Code for Remote Desktop Services
Install an SSL Certificate on Remote Desktop Services
Test your SSL Installation
Remote Desktop Gateway history and versions
Where to buy an SSL Certificate for Remote Desktop Services?
Generate a CSR Code for Remote Desktop Services
When applying for an SSL Certificate, you must generate a CSR code and submit it to the CA. The CSR includes contact details about your website or company. Depending on the version of your Remote Desktop Gateway Server, you can create the CSR in the same release of IIS. Microsoft IIS server comes pre-installed with every version of Windows.
For instance, if you use RDS 2016, you will generate your CSR in IIS 10 which is included in Windows Server 2016.
Weve already written comprehensive guides on how to generate a CSR code on various IIS versions. Use the links below to find the relevant guide:
- How to Generate a CSR code in Microsoft IIS 7? [RDS 2008]
- How to Generate a CSR code in Microsoft IIS 8 & 8.5? [RDS 2012]
- How to Generate a CSR code in Microsoft IIS 10? [RDS 2016]
After you create your CSR and complete the SSL validation, the CA will send all the necessary certificate files to your inbox. You can now proceed to SSL installation.
Install an SSL Certificate on Remote Desktop Services
Before beginning the installation, make sure you have all the required SSL files.
- Your server certificate: this is your SSL certificate with .cer or .crt You need to extract it from the ZIP archive that youve received from your CA and save it on your device.
- Your intermediate certificates: this is the .ca-bundle file from your ZIP archive
- Your private key: this is the .key Youve generated it along with your CSR code.
- To access the Remote Desktop Gateway Manager, click Start > Administrative Tools > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Gateway Manager
- In the Remote Desktop Gateway Manager Console tree, right click on RD Gateway Server and then select Properties
- Next, click on the SSL Certificate tab, and then on Import a certificate on the RD Gateway Certificates [local computer]/personal store
- Click on Browse and import certificate
- Locate your SSL Certificate and click Open
- Enter the password that youve created for your Private Key
- Click on Import Certificate and then OK
- Restart your server for changes to take effect.
Congratulations, now you know how to install an SSL Certificate on Remote Desktop Services.
Test your SSL Installation
After you install the SSL Certificate on RDS, type your URL in your browsers address bar to check the SSL padlock and certificate information. Even if everything displays correctly, we recommend doing a thorough test of your SSL configuration thatll pinpoint potential hidden errors and vulnerabilities. These powerful SSL tools deliver instant scans and reports on the state of your SSL Certificate.
Remote Desktop Gateway history and versions
Remote Desktop Services [RDS] is one of the components of Microsoft Windows that allow users to access a remote computer or virtual machine over a network connection. RDS was known as Terminal Server, until Microsoft renamed it 2009, and introduced the first RDS version in Windows Server 2008 R2.
Remote Desktop Gateway allows authorized users to connect to virtual desktops, Remote-App programs, and session-based desktops over a private network or the Internet. At the moment of writing this article, there are 4 versions of Remote Desktop Gateway:
- Remote Desktop Gateway 2019
- Remote Desktop Gateway 2016
- Remote Desktop Gateway 2012
- Remote Desktop Gateway 2008
Where to buy an SSL Certificate for Remote Desktop Services?
If youre looking for affordable SSL Certificates, then SSL Dragon is your best SSL vendor. Our intuitive and user-friendly website will walk you through the entire range of SSL Certificates. All our products are issued by reputable Certificate Authorities and are compatible with Remote Desktop Services. We offer the following SSL validation types:
- Domain Validation
- Business Validation
- Extended Validation
- Wildcard
- Multi-Domain
- Code Signing
- IP Address
- Email/Documents
We bring you the lowest prices on the market and dedicated customer support for any certificate you choose. And, if your struggling to find the ideal cert for your website, use our SSL Wizard and Advanced Certificate Filter tools to get suggestions.
If you find any inaccuracies, or you have details to add to these SSL installation instructions, please feel free to send us your feedback at [emailprotected]. Your input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.