Optimize

"Optimize" is available in AADS for:

• Windows 10, Windows 11
• Server 2016, Server 2019, Server 2022

Other AADS versions for other Windows versions do have the similar function Default Applications and Sets .

1-Button Wizard: Optimize

"Optimize" is as an easy wizard for default Application Control settings, resulting in better response and performance of the Terminal Server.

Workgroup / Domain

Before you use "Optimize", if applicable, first do the settings for Domain Authorization .

• When this Server is part of a Domain, "Optimize" will apply settings for the group "Domain Users".
• When this Server is a stand-alone Server, "Optimize" will apply settings to the local group "Remote Desktop Users".

The objective of "Optimize" is to disable some Windows functions and settings and replace the Window Start Menu with an AADS Start Menu. These Windows functions and settings are not always needed on a Terminal Server, and do consume a lot of CPU and Memory. When these Windows functions are disabled, the response and performance of the Server will be noticeable better, certainly with 10, 20 or more concurrent users.

• Click on the "Optimize" button
• ...wait a few seconds...
• Optional enable or disable some of the selections "Optimize Windows". It is recommended to enable all "Optimizations", such to get the best response and performance.
• Click on Apply.
• Some "Optimizations" require a reboot. If the "Reboot" button becomes enabled, a reboot is required. Click on the "Reboot" button as the last step.

About Disable Edge

• Disable Edge is about the "first" Edge browser that was included in Windows 10 / Server 2016 / Server 2019. It would always be running (...consuming memory and cpu cycles...)
• Disable Edge is not about the "second" Microsoft Edge browser (availability date: January 2020) . This "second" Edge Browser is a clone / derivative of the Chromium browser.

Office and Browsers

• In case Microsoft Office is installed, a Set for Microsoft Office will be created
• In case Libre Office is installed, a Set for Libre Office will be created
• In case one for the following browsers is installed, the browser will appear on in the Set "Internet Browsers"
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome (Enterprise Installation, not a single user installation)
  • Chromium (Enterprise Installation, not a single user installation)
  • Apple Safari
  • Opera
  • Vivaldi
  • Seamonkey
  • Microsoft Edge (Chrome-based browser)
  • Brave (Chrome-based browser)

Result

Relaxed Application Control

The objective of "Optimize" is to improve the response and performance of the Terminal Server and give a similar user-experience as default Windows. Because of this objective, "Optimize" does not apply Restrict Application Control, but does apply Relaxed Application Control:

It is possible to change this settings, and apply Restrict Application Control to the users:

1. Remove "$aad Apply Relaxed Control" from the group:

2. Assign "$aad Apply Restrict Control" to the group:

3. Save the settings:

Default Desktop for the Users: Windows 10 Look and Feel

When "Optimize" is used, all Users will be presented with an AADS Start Menu:

The details and settings of this Start Menu can be changed and adjusted by the Administrator.

Other Look and Feel's are possible.

Disable Start Menu with Tiles

When the option "Disable Start Menu with Tiles" has been set, no user will see the default Windows Start Menu with Tiles.
It is expected that all users will get a Start Menu based on  Application Control settings.

Default AADS Start Menu

Should it happen that an user does not have any assigned Applications thru  Application Control settings, the user gets a small default AADS Start Menu:

AADS Application Control has a special directive for assigning the default Windows Menu to an user or group. When the directive $aad Windows Menu is used, and "Disable Start Menu with Tiles" has been set, the directive $aad Windows Menu shows the small AADS Start Menu, and does not show the default Windows Start Menu with Tiles.

This small default AADS Start Menu is shown in cases when "settings" are such that there is no Start Menu at all for the User.

Suppress Windows Update during office hours

We have has learned that Windows Update for Windows 10 and Server 2016/2019/2022 can cause trouble. Therefore AADS can suppress Windows Update during office hours.

• This is available for Windows 10, 11 and Server 2016/2019/2022.
• This is not available for other versions of Windows.

Windows 10, 11 and Server 2016/2019/2022 do have Policies for Windows Update, but those Policies do not really stop Windows Update, and those policies do not differentiate between the day-of-the-week's:

The objective of these settings is to suppress Windows Update during Office hours.

• Let Windows Update run during "evening / night hours".
• Do a fresh reboot prior to the start of the workday. A fresh reboot of Windows can be a good remedy against all kind of trouble...