Little known but oh so enabling...

Windows Server 2008 added two new features that enable some very cool remote-use scenarios, that really enable some new ways for using and publishing applications:  RemoteApp(tm) and Terminal Server Gateway.

RemoteApp allows you to publish out an application, as if it was installed locally on the users workstation but actually runs in the memory space of the server.  This is ideal for users that need access to an application every once in a while, or need it remotely, but doesnt require you to install anything on the users desktop.  And if the program uses a file extension, like .MPP for Microsoft Project files the client can actually recognize this and start the remote program on the clients behalf.

Now this is great if you are on the corporate network or VPN'd in.  What if you want this access for a person who only has https:// access?   Dovetail RemoteApp with Terminal Server Gateway, and you can enable this across untrusted networks. 

We ran this for a very large customer who wanted to proof-of-concept our Microsoft Dynamics applications, and it worked like a champ.  Now, we had to create a cert through Microsoft trust chain, which was the worst part about the process, but once setup it was hands off.  and *very* enabling!

I can really see this changing way applications are deployed and managed...