How to Enable Drive Mapping Through SBS 2008 Remote Web Workplace

[Today's post comes to us courtesy of John Bay]

The Remote Web Workplace connect to computer feature in SBS 2008 by default doesn’t allow for local drive redirection. When you attempt to connect to the server or a client machine you will get the following popup showing what local resources will be available. The remote desktop connection only exposes clipboard and printer redirection by default.

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In order to get local drives to be available as an option, we have to use the following steps to modify a file on the Small Business Server.

  1. Make a backup copy of the following file:
    C:\program files\windows small business server\bin\webapp\remote\tsweb.aspx

  2. Right click on notepad and choose run as Administrator.

  3. Select File > Open and browse to the following file:
    C:\program files\windows small business server\bin\webapp\remote\tsweb.aspx

  4. Search for this line:
    MsRdpClient.AdvancedSettings2.RedirectDrives = FALSE

  5. Change the line to:
    MsRdpClient.AdvancedSettings2.RedirectDrives = TRUE

    The file should look like the following:
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  6. Save the file and exit notepad

  7. Log back into the remote web workplace.

Now when you use the connect to client desktop or connect to server feature you will see the following dialog allowing for local drives to be redirected.

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Note: If the tsweb.aspx file is ever updated in a future hotfix or service pack, your custom changes may be lost and if so you will need to manually redo them.