What you need to know
What should be checked when adding a server to the RD Web and RD Gateway front end?
Potentially affected
Administrators adding availability to an existing Remote Desktop Services web front end.
DSE recommendation
Document which server will handle new connections and how it enters the existing pool.
Source facts
Microsoft describes adding RD Web Access and RD Gateway servers as a way to expand an RDS front-end farm. The added server is prepared with domain membership and remote management enabled. The guidance calls for load balancing the long-lived client connections through RD Gateway. It describes an external Azure load balancer for Azure deployments and a separate hardware or software load balancer elsewhere. Microsoft documentation.
Applicability
Identify the existing deployment, current load balancer, backend pool, service name, and added server. Review the applicable role, certificate, and network settings in the full deployment procedure before changing traffic distribution.
DSE recommendation
Document which server will handle new connections and how it enters the existing pool. Ask the RDS and network owners to approve the traffic transition and a test that includes long-lived sessions. Preserve the original pool membership and specify the condition for removing the added server if validation fails.
Verification
Connect through the published front-end name and confirm which server receives the request. Test new and existing sessions during an approved backend maintenance event. Record the web and gateway results separately, and reconcile any connection failure before accepting the expanded farm.
Official references
Microsoft Learn: Add high availability to the RD Web and Gateway web front. Source reviewed September 8, 2026.
Review the official source
Add high availability to the RD Web and Gateway web front · Verified September 8, 2026
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