Supported Microsoft RDP clients can use APM as a gateway. The configuration supports Microsoft RDP clients on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

Refer to BIG-IP APM Client Compatibility Matrix on the AskF5 web site at http://support.f5.com/kb/en-us.html for the supported platforms and operating system versions for Microsoft RDP clients.

Before a supported Microsoft RDP client connects to Access Policy Manager (APM) as a gateway for RDP clients, installation of the BIG-IPclient SSL certificate (specified in the virtual server) is required.

On a Microsoft RDP client, a user types in settings for a gateway and a connection. The names for the settings vary depending on the Microsoft RDP client.

RDP client gateway settings

Hostname setting: The hostname or IP address of the virtual server must be specified.

Port setting: If requested, 443 must be specified.

Credentials: Selection of specific logon method and entry of a user name and password should be avoided. In this implementation, APM supports only NTLM authentication.

RDP client connection settings

Gateway setting: On some clients, you must configure a name and address for the gateway and at login type the gateway name. If requested, the gateway name must be specified as configured on the client.

Hostname setting: Hostname of the target server.

Port setting: Port on the target server.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Access Profiles. The Access Profiles List screen opens.
2. Click Create. The New Profile screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type a name for the access profile.
   Note: An access profile name must be unique among all access profile and any per-request policy names.
4. From the Profile Type list, select RDG-RAP.
5. Click Finished. The new access profile displays on the list.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Access Profiles. The Access Profiles List screen opens.
2. In the Access Policy column, click the Edit link for the RDG-RAP type access profile you want to configure. The visual policy editor opens the access policy in a separate screen.
3. Click the (+) icon anywhere in the access policy to add a new action item.
   Note: Only an applicable subset of access policy items is available for selection in the visual policy editor for any access profile type.
   A popup screen opens, listing predefined actions on tabs such as General Purpose, Authentication, and so on.
4. To restrict the target port to the RDP service only, perform these substeps:
   Note: F5 strongly recommends this action.
   1. In the search field, type emp, select Empty from the result list, and then click Add Item. A popup Properties screen opens.
   2. Click the Branch Rule tab.
   3. Click Add Branch Rule. A new entry with Name and Expression settings displays.
   4. In the Name field, replace the default name by typing a new name. The name appears on the branch in the access policy.
   5. Click the change link in the new entry. A popup screen opens.
   6. Click the Advanced tab.
   7. In the field, type this expression: expr { [mcget {session.rdg.target.port}] == 3389 }
   8. Click Finished. The popup screen closes.
   9. Click Save. The properties screen closes and the visual policy editor is displayed.
5. To verify group membership for the requested host, add an LDAP Query to the access policy and configure properties for it: Adding an LDAP Query is one option. The visual policy editor provides additional items that you can use to determine whether to allow the client to access the resource.
   1. From the Server list, select an AAA LDAP server. An LDAP Query uses SSL connections when you select an LDAP AAA server that is configured for LDAPS.
   2. Type queries in the SearchFilter field. This query matches hosts with the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the host. (DNSHostName=%{session.rdg.target.host}) When clients request a connection, they must specify the FQDN. This query matches hosts with the host name or with the FQDN of the host. (|(name=%{session.rdg.target.host})(DNSHostName=%{session.rdg.target.host})) When clients request a connection, they can specify a host name or an FQDN.
   3. Click Save. The properties screen closes and the visual policy editor is displayed.
6. To verify that the target host is a member of an Active Directory group, add a branch rule to the LDAP query item:
   1. In the visual policy editor, click the LDAP Query item that you want to update. A popup Properties screen displays.
   2. Click the Branch Rules tab, click Add Branch Rule, and type a descriptive name for the branch in the Name field.
   3. Click the change link in the new entry. A popup screen displays.
   4. Click the Advanced tab.
   5. Type an expression in the field. This expression matches the last LDAP memberOf attribute with an Active Directory group, RDTestGroup. expr { [mcget {session.ldap.last.attr.memberOf}] contains "CN=RDTestGroup" } The hypothetical members of the group in this example are the hosts to which access is allowed.
   6. Click Finished. The popup screen closes.
   7. Click Save. The properties screen closes and the visual policy editor is displayed.
7. Click Save. The properties screen closes and the visual policy editor displays.
8. Add any other items to the access policy and change any appropriate branch ending to Allow.
9. Click Apply Access Policy to save your configuration.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Access Profiles. The Access Profiles List screen opens.
2. Click Create. The New Profile screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type a name for the access profile.
   Note: An access profile name must be unique among all access profile and any per-request policy names.
4. From the Profile Type list, select one:
   • LTM-APM - Select for a web access management configuration.
   • SSL-VPN - Select to configure network access, portal access, or application access. (Most access policy items are available for this type.)
   • ALL - Select to support LTM-APM and SSL-VPN access types.
   Additional settings display.
5. Select the Custom check box.
6. In the Access Policy Timeout field, type the number of seconds that should pass before the access profile times out because of inactivity. The timeout needs to be at least 15 minutes long because an RDP client sends a keepalive to the gateway every 15 minutes.
   Important: To prevent a timeout, type 0 to set no timeout or type 900 or greater. 900 indicates a 15-minute timeout, which is enough time for the keepalive to prevent the timeout.
7. Click Finished.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Access Profiles. The Access Profiles List screen opens.
2. In the Access Policy column, click the Edit link for the access profile you want to configure. The visual policy editor opens the access policy in a separate screen.
3. Click the (+) icon anywhere in the access policy to add a new action item.
   Note: Only an applicable subset of access policy items is available for selection in the visual policy editor for any access profile type.
   A popup screen opens, listing predefined actions on tabs such as General Purpose, Authentication, and so on.
4. Optional: Type client in the search field, select Client Type from the results list, and click Add Item. The Client Type action identifies clients and enables branching based on the client type. A properties screen opens.
5. Click Save. The properties screen closes; the Client Type item displays in the visual policy editor with a Microsoft Client RDP branch and branches for other client types.
6. On an access policy branch, click the (+) icon to add an item to the access policy.
7. To verify the result of client authentication:
   1. Type NTLM in the search field.
   2. Select NTLM Auth Result.
   3. Click Add Item.
   A properties screen opens.
8. Click Save. The properties screen closes and the visual policy editor displays.
9. Select the RDG-RAP access policy you configured earlier:
   1. Click the [+] sign on the successful branch after the authentication action.
   2. Type RDG in the search field.
   3. Select RDG Policy Assign and click Add Item.
   4. To display available policies, click the Add/Delete link.
   5. Select a policy and click Save.
   Without an RDG policy, APM denies access to each resource request.
10. Click the Apply Access Policy link to apply and activate the changes to the access policy.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Access Profiles > NTLM > Machine Account. A new Machine Account screen opens.
2. In the Configuration area, in the Machine Account Name field, type a name.
3. In the Domain FQDN field, type the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for the domain that you want the machine account to join.
4. Optional: In the Domain Controller FQDN field, type the FQDN for a domain controller.
5. In the Admin User field, type the name of a user who has administrator privilege.
6. In the Admin Password field, type the password for the admin user. APM uses these credentials to create the machine account on the domain controller. However, APM does not store the credentials and you do not need them to update an existing machine account configuration later.
7. Click Join.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Access Profiles > NTLM > NTLM Auth Configuration. A new NTLM Auth Configuration screen opens.
2. In the Name field, type a name.
3. From the Machine Account Name list, select the machine account configuration to which this NTLM Auth configuration applies. You can assign the same machine account to multiple NTLM authentication configurations.
4. For each domain controller, type a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and click Add.
   Note: You should add only domain controllers that belong to one domain.
   By specifying more than one domain controller, you enable high availability. If the first domain controller on the list is not available, Access Policy Manager tries the next domain controller on the list, successively.
5. Click Finished.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Access Profiles > NTLM > Machine Account. The Machine Account screen opens.
2. Click the name of a machine account. The properties screen opens and displays the date and time of the last update to the machine account password.
3. Click the Renew Machine Password button. The screen refreshes and displays the updated date and time.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Application Access > Remote Desktops > VDI Profiles. The VDI Profiles list opens.
2. Click Create. A popup screen opens with General Information selected in the left pane and settings displayed in the right pane.
3. In the Profile Name field, type a name.
4. From the Parent Profile field, select an existing VDI profile. A VDI profile inherits properties from the parent profile. You can override them in this profile.
5. In the left pane, click MSRDP Settings. Settings in the right pane change.
6. From the MSRDP NTLM Configuration list, select an NTLM authentication configuration.
7. Click OK. The popup screen closes.

1. On the Main tab, click Access Policy > Secure Connectivity. A list of connectivity profiles displays.
2. Click Add. The Create New Connectivity Profile popup screen opens and displays General Settings.
3. Type a Profile Name for the connectivity profile.
4. Select a Parent Profile from the list. APM provides a default profile, connectivity.
5. Click OK. The popup screen closes, and the Connectivity Profile List displays.

1. On the Main tab, click Local Traffic > Profiles > SSL > Client. The Client profile list screen opens.
2. Click Create. The New Client SSL Profile screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type a unique name for the profile.
4. Select clientssl in the Parent Profile list.
5. From the Configuration list, select Advanced.
6. Select the Custom check box. The settings become available for change.
7. Select the Custom check box for Client Authentication. The settings become available.
8. From the Configuration list, select Advanced.
9. Modify the settings, as required.
10. Click Finished.

1. On the Main tab, click Local Traffic > Virtual Servers. The Virtual Server List screen opens.
2. Click the Create button. The New Virtual Server screen opens.
3. In the Name field, type a unique name for the virtual server.
4. In the Destination Address field, type the IP address for a host virtual server. This field accepts an address in CIDR format (IP address/prefix). However, when you type the complete IP address for a host, you do not need to type a prefix after the address.
5. For the Service Port, do one of the following:
   • Type 443 in the field.
   • Select HTTPS from the list.
6. In the SSL Profile (Client) list, select an SSL profile.
7. In the Access Policy area, from the Access Profile list, select the access profile for RDP client authorization that you configured earlier.
8. From the Connectivity Profile list, select a profile.
9. From the VDI Profile list, select the VDI profile you configured earlier.
10. Click Finished.