Deep Dive: How Terminal Services Works
Published on Microsoft TechNet is an older article chocked full of great information that still applies to today’s Terminal Services. The article takes an in-depth look at the architecture of Terminal Services, Terminal Services components, physical structure, component interaction, the Remote Desktop client, licensing, etc. For instance, the TechNet article details the processes involved in a Terminal Services such as:
| Component | Description |
| CSRSS.exe | The Client-Server Runtime Subsystem is the process and thread manager for all logon sessions. |
| RdpDD.sys | Captures the Windows user interface and translates it into a form that is readily converted by RDPWD into the RDP protocol |
| RdpWD.sys | Unwraps the multi-channel data and then transfers it to the appropriate session. |
| SMSS.exe | Session Manager creates and manages all sessions. |
| Termsrv.exe | Manages client connections and initiates creation and shutdown of connection contexts. |
| Termdd.sys | The RDP protocol, which listens for RDP client connections on a TCP port. |
| Tdtcp.sys | Packages the RDP protocol onto the underlying network protocol, TCP/IP. |
| Wlnotify.dll | Runs in the session’s WinLogon process to create processes in the user session. |
| Win32k.sys | Manages the Windows GUI environment by taking the mouse and keyboard inputs and sending them to the appropriate application. |
| WinLogon.exe | This system service handles user logons and logoffs and processes the special Windows key combination Ctrl-Alt-Delete. WinLogon is responsible for starting the Windows shell (which is usually Windows Explorer). |
This article really is a must read for anyone new to Microsoft Terminal Services, or even those that have been dealing with Terminal Services for a while and want to get some more in-depth knowledge about the nuts an bolts going on behind the scenes.
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