12 August 2010 ~ 12 Comments

No sound in ESX / ESXi through RDP

ESXi

Working on vmware is great, but it gets even better when you have some sounds.
A straight out the box install gives you a error on the sound card.

The audio Service is not running

No audio Devices are installed

It took me some to figure out this problem, but at the end … it was really simple.

Let’s make it work !

Server 2003

Go to:
Start >> Programs >> Administrative Tools >> Terminal Services Configuration

On the right side of the MMC highlight RDP-Tcp
Right-click and choose properties
Go to the Client settings tab

rdp-sound-3

Untagg the Audio mapping and press apply.
You will need to login again to make it use the new settings.

Server 2008

Go to:
Start >> Programs >> Administrative Tools >>Terminal Services >> Terminal Services Configuration

In the connection windows highlight the RDP-Tcp connection, right-click and choose properties
Go to the Client settings Tab.
There you will find the redirection of Audio disabled by default.

rdp-sound-2
Untagg the Audio and press apply.
You will need to login again to make it use the new settings.

XP / Vista / Windows 7

The clients don’t have the terminal server configuration mmc, so this has to be changed from within the Local Group Policy.
Go to:
start >> run >> mmc.exe

Go to file >> Add/remove snap-in
In the list choose Group Policy object editor and click on ADD
Default option is local Computer >> Click on Finish
Click on OK

Now navigatie to:

Local Computer Policy
>> Computer Configuration
>> Administrative Templates
>> Windows Components
>> Terminal Services
>> Terminal Server
>> Device and Resource Redirection
Here you will find the option: Allow Audio and Video playback redirection
This setting needs to be enabled

rdp-sound-4

Restart your client and make a connection!

Have fun.

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12 Responses to “No sound in ESX / ESXi through RDP”

  1. Ben Chapman 16 July 2009 at 22:18 Permalink

    Excellent tutorial. Thank you!

  2. Steven Rose 17 September 2009 at 18:05 Permalink

    Well done! Thank you.

  3. Tom 26 October 2009 at 01:51 Permalink

    Thanks for this. Once changing the group policy this worked a treat for the two client machines I am utilising. However next time I went to use it is no longer working although checking the Local Group Policy shows the setting as still having audio and video playback still enabled.

    Has anyone got any clues?

  4. Tom 28 October 2009 at 06:13 Permalink

    Great tutorial and solution. However with Vista client whilst the solution was effective on restarting the client, next time VM was utilised on client it was not effective. Running ESX Server 3i. Checking settings reveals the audio is still enabled in the “Device and Resource Redirection”.

    Has anyone else experienced this? Doesn’t make sense to me when it initialy worked.

  5. Dan 19 April 2011 at 01:54 Permalink

    Terminal services branch does not exist in windows 7 .

  6. Christoffer Letth 29 April 2011 at 11:46 Permalink

    Very nice, helped me solve my problems.

    Thx

  7. nix0 4 July 2011 at 03:29 Permalink

    Terminal Services is called Remote Desktop Services in Windows 7

  8. Francisco 22 July 2011 at 17:11 Permalink

    Thanks, was very helpful !!!!!!!!!!

  9. CimpleSypher 24 July 2011 at 17:33 Permalink

    Nobody seemed to answer the question about the solution not working after reboot. Is the fix permanenet or not?

  10. CimpleSypher 24 July 2011 at 17:36 Permalink

    Does this solution require a physical soundcard on the host?

  11. Martin 24 July 2011 at 18:24 Permalink

    Yes, you will need a soundcard in the computer which is connecting to the RDP server.


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