Remote Desktop Protocol session to Windows Cells fails against Stemcell Version v1200.7 and above in Tanzu Application Service for Windows

Products

• VMware Tanzu Application Service for VMs

Issue/Introduction

Remote Desktop to a Windows Cell fails in Tanzu Application Service for Windows (TAS for Windows). 

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) was disabled by default in all Windows Stemcell lines to enhance security.

The facility to re-enable RDP was later removed from the TAS for Windows Tile in version 2.7.0 due to the security implications of re-enabling RDP. For more information, refer to TAS for Windows 2.7.0 - Breaking Change.

Resolution

Operators who need to administer their Windows Cells remotely should follow these steps:

1. Enable bosh ssh. You can find the steps on how to enable BOSH-native SSH support here.
2. `bosh ssh` to start a Powershell session on the Cell.