Thinstuff > TS RemoteApp vs. TSX RemoteApp

What is a remote application?

When you establish a RDP connection you usually see the entire desktop of the server. Starting with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft developed the "TS RemoteApp." These programs continue to run in RDP but are perfectly integrated with the local desktop.


  • Imagine the following RDP session:

  • With TS RemoteApp everything that is around the application "calculator" is hidden to the user.

    It is as if the yellow area was transparent then the user will get the impression that this application is run locally (the remote computer's desktop will not be displayed).


    • What is the difference between TS RemoteApp and TSX RemoteApp?

    The following table provides an overview of the server-side operating systems supported by Microsoft TS RemoteApp and Thinstuff TSX RemoteApp if you want to enable a multi-user application:

    Multi-User Seamless Application Publishing Protocol Support




    Operating System (Server side) Without Thinstuff With TSX RemoteApp Stand-Alone With XPVS Std/Pro (Integrated TSX RemoteApp)




    x86 ( 32-Bit)






    Windows XP Home (SP3)

    Windows XP Media Center 2005 incl. Rollup 2 (SP3)

    Windows XP Professional (SP3)

    		1/
    Windows Vista Home Basic / Home Premium / Business x86 (SP2)

    Windows Vista Ultimate / Enterprise x86 (SP2)

    		2/
    Windows 7 Starter / Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional x86 (RTM)

    		/
    Windows 7 Ultimate / Enterprise x86 (RTM)

    		/
    Windows Small Business Server 2003 (SP2)

    Windows Server 2003 Web Edition x86 (SP2)

    Windows Server 2003 Standard / Enterprise / Datacenter x86 (SP2)
    		3
    Windows Web Server 2008 x86 (SP2)

    		/
    Windows Server 2008 Standard / Enterprise / Datacenter x86 (SP2) 3 3 / 3 /




    x64( 64-Bit)






    Windows XP Professional x64 (SP2)

    Windows Vista Home Basic / Home Premium / Business / Ultimate / Enterprise x64 (SP2)

    Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional x64 (RTM)

    		/
    Windows 7 Ultimate / Enterprise x64 (RTM)

    		/
    Windows Server 2003 Web Edition / Standard / Enterprise / Datacenter x64 (SP2)

    Windows Small Business Server 2008 x64 (SP2)

    		/
    Windows Web Server 2008 x64 (SP2)

    		/
    Windows Server 2008 Standard / Enterprise / Datacenter x64 (SP2) 3 3/3 /
    Windows Web Server 2008 R2 x64 (RTM)

    		/
    Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation / Standard / Enterprise / Datacenter x64 (RTM) 3 3/3 /








    1 requires Microsoft KB961742-v3 to be installed:


    2 requires Microsoft KB961741 to be installed : Thinstuff TSX RemoteApp
    3 only with Terminal Services / RD Session Host Role : Microsoft TS RemoteApp


    You can use the Microsoft TS RemoteApp if you install XP/VS Server on one of the following operating systems:

    For all other versions of operating systems Thinstuff has developed a completely separate product called TSX RemoteApp (with "X ").

    For example: if you wish to connect to a machine running Windows 7/2008/2008 R2 and you want to use an application remotely, you can use Microsoft TS Remote App and there is no need to install our product TSX RemoteApp.

    If you want to connect to a machine running Windows Server 2003 (or another operating system not supported by Microsoft TS Remote App) and you want to use an application remotely you will need to install our TSX RemoteApp Server.

    You can also find our free RDP client in Thinstuff TSX RemoteApp Installer package. You can use it regardless of the TS (X) Remote App and it offers additional features compared to Microsoft RDP Client.

    So there aretwo available protocols for the use of remote applications:
    • TS RemoteApp - Microsoft
    • TSX RemoteApp - Thinstuff

    If you install the TSX RemoteApp Server software on a server machine it will be compatible with both protocols.

  • The most recent Microsoft Remote Desktop Connecticon Client is only compatible with the TS RemoteApp protocol.

  • With TSX Remote App Server installed on server side and using Thinstuff TSX Remote Desktop Client on client side you will be able to use both protocols.


    • If you are using a Windows 7 machine as Terminal Server there is no need to install the TSX RemoteApp Server (on your Windows 7 machine). It is also not necessary to install the Thinstuff TSX RemoteApp client on the workstation.

    Reason: Windows 7 and Microsoft RDP Client both use the protocol TS Remote App

    However, Microsoft Remote Desktop Client offers no possibility to activate or configure the TS RemoteApp mode from the graphical user interface. You must be able to create the .rdp file (with notepad, ...).
    For this reason it is convenient to install the Thinstuff Remote Desktop Client on workstation, because it will be able to manage both the TSX RemotApp and TS RemoteApp with a graphical user interface.