Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

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How to Install RDS CALs On Windows Server

How to Install RDS CALs On Windows Server

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    Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

In this blog post we will discuss on Installing and Configuring a Remote Desktop License Server (RDS CALs) on Windows server 2019. We can also use same steps if we have windows 2016 or 2012. The steps are almost identical on each windows server editions. There is no noticeable changes in the Steps we follow for any of these Windows Server Editions.

Applies To

  • Windows server 2019
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2012

By default only two concurrent active rdp sessions are allowed on a windows server editions like 2012,2016 or 2019. If we need more than two users simultaneously log into the server we need to have Remote Desktop Licensing (RD Licensing), formerly Terminal Services Licensing (TS Licensing), which manages the Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) for users to connect to a Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) server.

If we enable RDS CALs, each user and device that connects to a Remote Desktop Session host needs a client access license (CAL). The RDS CALs is installed as a server Manager Role. There is a default licensing applied on installation and activation with a grace period of 180 Days during which no purchased RDS CAL license needed. After that we need to choose either of below Licencing model and need to Purchase it from the Microsoft store or from a vendor.

RDS Per Device CALs    :     RDS CALs are physically assigned to each device.
RDS Per User CALs        :     RDS CALs are assigned to a user with or without Active Directory.

RDS CAL Version Compatibility

We can’t use RDS CALs of a Windows server 2012 to access later versions of Windows Server 2016 or 2019, but we can use later versions of RDS CALs to access earlier versions of Windows Server editions.

RDS CAL Licence Purchase

Before proceeding with the install first we have  RDS CAL Licence in hand. There are two methods available for RDS CAL Licence implementation.

  1. Purchase the Microsoft Windows client access Licence ( Remote Desktop service- User/Device CAL) from Microsoft store. After purchase we will get a product licence key and this Key is used during installation of services in the server.
  2. Use The Microsoft Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) SALs. With the SPLA, service providers and ISVs can license eligible Microsoft products on a monthly basis. This Licence structure is mainly used on a VPS/Dedicated environment Provided by a Hosting Provider. For that we have to pay a monthly fee to the Hosting Provider.

Windows Server 2019 Users Only

If we are Implementing “RDS User CAL” in a Windows Server 2019 servers, Setup either of below things before Proceed with the Install of Remote Desktop Service.

  1.  Add the new RDS CAL server to the Terminal Server License Servers domain group of existing Active Directory Domain
  2.  Install Active Directory Services ( ADDS) in the RDS CAL server.

Other wise we will get error like below screenshot while users logging in and stays for 60 Min.

There is a problem with your Remote Desktop license, and your session will be disconnected in 60 minutes. Contact your system administrator to fix this problem.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

The Requirement Also Described in Microsoft Page,  Below is the particular section screenshot where it mention.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

We only need to Activate Active Directory Services (ADDS) if we settings up a RDS User CAL on Windows Server 2019. Not necessary for RDS Device CAL implementation on a Windows server 2019. So lets get started.

Installing the Server Roles

We can install Remote Desktop Licensing Role using Server Manager

Open “Server Manager” >> Click “Add Roles and Features”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click “Next” in the Before You Begin Section.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Select “Role based or Feature based Installation”  and Click Next.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Choose option  “Select a server from the server pool”.  Choose Our server from the Server pool and Click Next.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Scroll down and select “Remote Desktop Services” then click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click Next by Leaving Default Selection in  Features Section.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click Next on Remote Desktop Services Section.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Select the “Remote Desktop Licensing” and “Remote Desktop Session Host”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

A Pop Up Window Will Appear. Click Add Features for Each of them

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click Next and Select the “Restart the destination server automatically if required” then click Install

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

The server will reboot automatically during install process and finally we will get below screen when the installation succeeded. Once finished click Close.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

This  concluded Installation of Remote Desktop Licensing Role Using Server Manager.

Install the Server Roles Using Powershell Command

We can also install the the RDS Licensing service and “Remote Desktop Licensing” and “Remote Desktop Session Host” using PowerShell Commands instead of Using above graphical Server Manager method. Below is that three commands we need to use.

If needed (and possible), restart the server using Below PowerShell command after the server role install.

After the server reboot. We can Check if the “Remote Desktop Session Host” , RDS Licensing service and “Remote Desktop Licensing” is available using Below Powershell command.

The command Output can view from below screenshot. You will also get similar results when issues those commands.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Activating the RDS License Server

Now lets Proceed with Activate Licensing Server. For that we need to launch the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. We can launch the installed “Remote Desktop Licensing Manager” from below windows server section.

Go to Windows Start  >> Control Panel >> System and Security  >> Administrative Tools >> Remote Desktop Services >> Double click “Remote Desktop Licensing Manager”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

A pop-up window will appear  and that is the “RD Licencing Manager”.  Expand the Server section by clicking the plus icon.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?
Right click our server name then click Activate Server

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click Next on Welcome to the Activate Server Wizard.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Choose the “Connection Method” as “Automatic connection” and click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Enter our Company  Information and click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

[Optional] Enter additional information and click Next

Or Leave it as Blank in the Optional Information fields  and Click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

This Completes the Activate RDS License Server steps. Now Lets Proceed with the Install RDS Licence section.

Installing RDS CALs

In the Activate Server Wizard itself, Check the box to “Start Install Licenses Wizard now then click Next”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Accidentally If we didn’t clicked the “start Install Licenses Wizard” in the previous step, we can access the Install RDS CAL Licence wizard by right clicking our “server name” in the “RD Licensing Manager” then click “Install Licenses”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click Next on Welcome to the Install Licenses Wizard.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Now In this section we need to Pick the type of license Program that we use. There are few Options  available, in that we are discussing two Licence Program methods. Those two are the most commonly used Ones. We only Need to Choose either of them as per our Personal choice and Licence Type we are currently holding.

  1. Choose Licence program as “Licence Pack (Retail Purchase)”, if we purchased RDS Licence directly from Microsoft.
  2. Choose Licence program as ” Service Provider License Agreement” if you are in a VPS/Dedicated servers provided by a Hosting Provider and they already have a data centor Licence and our VPS Operating System licence comes under it.

If we Choose Licence program as “Licence Pack (Retail Purchase)” and Click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Enter the Licence Code and Click Next.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

If we Choose Licence program as ” Service Provider License Agreement” and Click Next.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Enter Our Licence Agreement Number and Click Next.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

  • Now Select “product version” as per your Windows Operating System Edition. In our case It Windows Server 2019
  • Select Licence Type as ” RDS Per User CAL” or “RDS Per Device CAL” According to the Licence type given by our Provider. In our case we choose “RDS Per User CAL”
  • Choose the Quantity as per our requirement. Say if you need to have 5 users simultaneously log into the server. Type 5 and Click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click Finish to complete the RDS license install.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Review RDS CAL Licence Install

Right click our “server name” in the “RD Licensing Manager” then click “Review Configuration”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

In Our case we got two yellow warning. This happened because we enabled RDS User CAL on a ADDS Environment. If you don’t have any Warnings, you are good to Go further.  Lets see How to Fix this warning before Proceed further.

  • Click the “Add to Group” next to ” The Licence server or the network service account is not a member of the Terminal Server Licence Servers group In Active Directory Domain Services. This Licence server will not be able to issue RDS Per User CALs to Users in the domain, and you will not be able to track or report the usage of RDS per User CALs on this Licence Server.
  • Click “Register as SCP” next to This licence server is not registered as a service connection point (SCP) in Active Directory Domain Services. The licence server will not appear in the list of known licence servers in the Remote Desktop Secession Host Server Configuration tool.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Now we can see the message as You must restart the Remote Desktop Licensing service. Until the service is restarted this Licence server will not able able to issues RDS Per user CALs to users in the domain, and you will not able able to track or report the usage of RDS Per User CALs on this licence server.

In order to fix this warning. Go to the windows services section and restart the windows service named ” Remote Desktop Licensing service” and Click Ok.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Again, Right click our “server name” in the “RD Licensing Manager” then click “Review Configuration”. This time we can see no warnings appears and our RDS CAL Licence Install is successful.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

We can also see The New license key we just added from the  “Licence manager” itself and a green tick appears next to our Windows server name.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

How To Diagnose Remote Desktop Licence

Use the “Remote Desktop License Diagnoser” for checking any issues with the RDS CAL Licence Server.

For that Go to Windows Start >> Control Panel >> System and Security >> Administrative Tools >> Remote Desktop Services >> Double click “Remote Desktop Licensing Diagnoser”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

In Our case we go below warnings.

  • Licenses are not available for this Remote Desktop Session Host server, and RD Licensing Diagnoser has identified licensing problems for the RD Session Host server.
  • The licensing mode for the Remote Desktop Session Host Server is not configured.
  • The Remote Desktop Session Host server is within its grace period, but the RD session Host server has not been configured with any licence server.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Normally this error will get on RD Licence server, when we haven’t configured the correct group policy for Licencing Server. So lets see how it can be done.

Enable Group Policy for RDS licensing Server.

For settings up Group Policy in a RDS Licence server, Open Windows RUN, and enter gpedit.msc, click Ok

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Go to section Local computer Policy>> Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote DesktopServices\Remote Desktop Session Host\Licensing

  • Double click on “Use the specified RD license servers” >> click Enable, then Enter Our server name shows up in the Remote Desktop Licence Manager and click on Apply

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Now Double click on “Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode” >> click enable, then select “Per User” or “Per Device” as per your Licence and Apply

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Now restart Remote Desktop Licensing service from the Windows services section and  click the Refresh button available in the right side from the RD Licensing Diagnoser. We can see  the diagnoser showed the message as ” RD Licensing Diagnoser did not identify any licensing problems for the Remote Desktop Session Host server.  Additional information like, Licence mode and Number of Licenses will also appear in the same window.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

This will conclude the Group Policy for RDS licensing  Server and RDS CAL Server is ready to Use for Users.

How to Rebuild the RDS Licence

Some times we may come across situation like, we  need to add more users to the RDS CAL User type Licence, Need to Change the User type CAL into Device CAL or The Installed Licence has become corrupted. In such cases, we can correct those issues by rebuilding the current RDS Licence.

For that Right click our “server name” in the “RD Licensing Manager” then click “Manage Licenses”

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Click Next on the Welcome to the Manage licenses Wizard.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Choose the option “Rebuild the license server database”  and select the reason as ” The certificate for the licence server has become corrupted”. Click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

Confirm the deletion of licenses currently installed on this licence server and click Next

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

This will delete the current Licence installed in the server and will prompt the Licence install step again. Complete those and finalise the rebuild.  This completes the Rebuild and Install of New RDS CAL Licence in the server.

How to Remove RDS CALs from a RD License Server

Some times we want to transfer our RDS CAL license set from one Remote Desktop licensing server to another,  in such cases we can remove installed CAL licenses pack from the current  licensing server using two methods.

  1. Using PowerShell commands.

Use the following cmdlet, and  list all the installed RDS CAL packages on the server.

Find the KeyPackID value for the RDS CAL package that you want to remove and run the command. We can get the KeyPackID value from the Remote Desktop Licence Manager Itself.

Where to install Remote Desktop license server?

         2.  By Removing the RDS CAL database file.

To do this, stop the Remote Desktop Licensing service from the Windows Services section

Rename the file C:\Windows\System32\lserver\TLSLic.edb to C:\Windows\System32\lserver\TLSLic.edb_bak and start the “remote desktop service” again. That will delete  all the RDS CAL licenses in the server and we need to reactivate them for further usage.

This blog article covered most of the  common options in the RDS CAL server. We hope this become informative  for those having similar needs. Leave your thoughts at the below comment box.

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By admin|2021-12-16T09:45:50+00:00September 12th, 2020|Windows|

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How to install Remote Desktop Licensing server?

Select Remote Desktop Services, and then click Next, and then Next on the Remote Desktop Services page. Select Remote Desktop Licensing, and then click Next. Configure the domain - select Configure a discovery scope for this license server, click This domain, and then click Next. Click Install.

How to install RDS license server 2022?

Activate the RDS CALs:.
Now right click your server name then click Install licenses..
A Windows with “Welcome to the install licenses Wizard” will open. Click on Next..
Choose the license program License pack (Retail Purchase) then click on Next..
Enter your License key, Click on Add then click on Next..
All set now..

How to install RDS CALs license in Windows Server 2012?

Installing RD CALs Launch the RDS license manager if not already running. In Windows 2012, launch Server Manager and click Tools > Terminal Services > Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. Right-click the server name and select Install Licenses. Choose the applicable license program and click Next.

What is Remote Desktop license server?

Remote Desktop Web Access is the server role that allows users to connect to server resources using a web browser. The Remote Desktop License Server manages the RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) that are required by client devices to connect to the RD session host.