Bypass RDS Load Balancer to Connect Directly to Specific Server

draft · remote-access rdpsession-management

Generated by docuprocessor (prompt article/v3) · 2026-04-22 08:35

Source thread

thread_id: spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/xXNbp2u9JwQ · 3 msgs · first 2024-07-08 · participants: Tech A

Tech A 2024-07-08 16:41

@all if you see this while trying to RDS into one of the RDS servers to kill the session, you need to add /admin at the end of the server name

image/png image.png

**Remote Desktop Connection Error Dialog** A Windows "Remote Desktop Connection" error states: *"Remote Desktop Connection cannot connect to the remote computer."* The detailed message indicates that remote computer **rds08.pdsmgmt.local** is redirecting to **RDS05.pdsmgmt.local**, and RDP cannot verify the computers belong to the same RD Session Host server farm. The dialog advises using the farm name (not computer name) for connection, or running **`mstsc.exe /admin`** at a command prompt to connect directly to a specific farm member.

Tech A 2024-07-08 16:42

liek this

image/png image.png

The Remote Desktop Connection dialog box displays the target computer address **rds08.pdsmgmt.local /admin** in the Computer field, with User name listed as **"None specified."** A message reads: *"You will be asked for credentials when you connect."* No error codes are present; the connection has not yet been initiated.

Tech A 2024-07-08 16:42

there is a load balance setup on all RDS serves and adding /admin bypasses that

---
title: "Bypass RDS Load Balancer to Connect Directly to Specific Server"
category: remote-access
tags: ["rdp", "session-management"]
source_thread_id: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/xXNbp2u9JwQ"
source_space: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s"
generated_at: "2026-04-22T08:35:48"
participants: ["Tech A"]
---

# Bypass RDS Load Balancer to Connect Directly to Specific Server

## Problem
When attempting to connect via Remote Desktop Connection to a specific RDS server (e.g., rds08.pdsmgmt.local), the connection fails with an error stating that the remote computer is redirecting to another server in the farm (e.g., RDS05.pdsmgmt.local) and RDP cannot verify the computers belong to the same RD Session Host server farm. This occurs because there is a load balancer setup on all RDS servers that prevents direct connection to a specific server member.

## Resolution
1. Open Remote Desktop Connection
2. In the Computer field, append `/admin` to the server name (e.g., `rds08.pdsmgmt.local /admin`)
3. Connect normally - you will be prompted for credentials
4. The `/admin` parameter bypasses the load balancer and connects directly to the specified RDS server

Alternatively, you can run `mstsc.exe /admin` from a command prompt to launch Remote Desktop Connection with admin mode enabled by default.

## References
- Source discussion: `spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/xXNbp2u9JwQ`
- Attachments:
  - ![image.png](../attachments/xXNbp2u9JwQ.xXNbp2u9JwQ/image.png) — **Remote Desktop Connection Error Dialog**
A Windows "Remote Desktop Connection" error states: *"Remote Desktop Connection cannot connect to the remote computer."* The detailed message indicates that remote computer **rds08.pdsmgmt.local** is redirecting to **RDS05.pdsmgmt.local**, and RDP cannot verify the computers belong to the same RD Session Host server farm. The dialog advises using the farm name (not computer name) for connection, or running **`mstsc.exe /admin`** at a command prompt to connect directly to a specific farm member.
  - ![image.png](../attachments/xXNbp2u9JwQ.zqHyHVLfSrc/image.png) — The Remote Desktop Connection dialog box displays the target computer address **rds08.pdsmgmt.local /admin** in the Computer field, with User name listed as **"None specified."** A message reads: *"You will be asked for credentials when you connect."* No error codes are present; the connection has not yet been initiated.

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