In this blog mail we will hash out on Installing and Configuring a Remote Desktop License Server (RDS CALs) on Windows server 2019. We tin can also employ same steps if we have windows 2016 or 2012. The steps are nearly 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 merely two concurrent agile 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 nosotros need to take Remote Desktop Licensing (RD Licensing), formerly Last Services Licensing (TS Licensing), which manages the Remote Desktop Services client admission 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 Function. 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. Afterwards that we need to choose either of below Licencing model and demand to Buy 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

Nosotros can't employ RDS CALs of a Windows server 2012 to access later versions of Windows Server 2016 or 2019, but nosotros can use after versions of RDS CALs to access earlier versions of Windows Server editions.

RDS CAL Licence Buy

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. Afterwards purchase we will become a product licence key and this Cardinal 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 take 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 Agile Directory Domain
  2.  Install Active Directory Services ( ADDS) in the RDS CAL server.

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

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

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

We just need to Actuate 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. And so lets get started.

Installing the Server Roles

We can install Remote Desktop Licensing Function using Server Manager

Open "Server Manager" >> Click "Add together Roles and Features"

Click "Next" in the Before You lot Begin Department.

Select "Role based or Characteristic based Installation"  and Click Adjacent.

Choose pick  "Select a server from the server pool".  Cull Our server from the Server pool and Click Next.

Roll down and select "Remote Desktop Services" then click Next

Click Next by Leaving Default Selection in  Features Section.

Click Next on Remote Desktop Services Department.

Select the "Remote Desktop Licensing" and "Remote Desktop Session Host"

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

Click Side by side and Select the "Restart the destination server automatically if required" so click Install

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

This  ended Installation of Remote Desktop Licensing Role Using Server Managing director.

Install the Server Roles Using Powershell Command

We tin can too install the the RDS Licensing service and "Remote Desktop Licensing" and "Remote Desktop Session Host" using PowerShell Commands instead of Using to a higher place graphical Server Manager method. Beneath is that three commands nosotros need to utilise.

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

After the server reboot. Nosotros can Check if the "Remote Desktop Session Host" , RDS Licensing service and "Remote Desktop Licensing" is bachelor using Below Powershell control.

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

Activating the RDS License Server

Now lets Proceed with Activate Licensing Server. For that nosotros need to launch the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. We can launch the installed "Remote Desktop Licensing Director" from beneath windows server section.

Go to Windows Commencement  >> Command Panel >> Organization and Security  >> Administrative Tools >> Remote Desktop Services >> Double click "Remote Desktop Licensing Director"

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

Correct click our server proper name then click Actuate Server

Click Side by side on Welcome to the Activate Server Wizard.

Cull the "Connection Method" as "Automatic connexion" and click Next

Enter our Company  Information and click Adjacent

[Optional] Enter additional data and click Next

Or Leave it equally Bare in the Optional Information fields  and Click Next

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

Installing RDS CALs

In the Actuate Server Wizard itself, Check the box to "Start Install Licenses Wizard now then click Next"

Accidentally If we didn't clicked the "offset Install Licenses Wizard" in the previous step, we can admission the Install RDS CAL Licence wizard by correct clicking our "server name" in the "RD Licensing Manager" and so click "Install Licenses"

Click Next on Welcome to the Install Licenses Wizard.

Now In this department we need to Pick the blazon of license Program that nosotros use. In that location are few Options  bachelor, in that we are discussing two Licence Program methods. Those 2 are the almost ordinarily used Ones. Nosotros only Need to Cull either of them equally per our Personal pick and Licence Blazon we are currently holding.

  1. Cull Licence programme every bit "Licence Pack (Retail Purchase)", if nosotros purchased RDS Licence direct from Microsoft.
  2. Choose Licence program every bit " Service Provider License Agreement" if you are in a VPS/Dedicated servers provided past a Hosting Provider and they already have a data centor Licence and our VPS Operating System licence comes under it.

If we Cull Licence plan as "Licence Pack (Retail Purchase)" and Click Next

Enter the Licence Code and Click Next.

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

Enter Our Licence Agreement Number and Click Adjacent.

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

Click Finish to consummate the RDS license install.

Review RDS CAL Licence Install

Right click our "server proper noun" in the "RD Licensing Manager" and then click "Review Configuration"

In Our case we got ii yellowish warning. This happened because nosotros enabled RDS User CAL on a ADDS Environment. If y'all 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 non a member of the Terminal Server Licence Servers group In Active Directory Domain Services. This Licence server volition not be able to upshot RDS Per User CALs to Users in the domain, and you will not be able to rail or report the usage of RDS per User CALs on this Licence Server.
  • Click "Register as SCP" adjacent to This licence server is not registered as a service connexion indicate (SCP) in Active Directory Domain Services. The licence server will non appear in the listing of known licence servers in the Remote Desktop Secession Host Server Configuration tool.

Now we tin can encounter the message every bit 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 volition not able able to track or report the usage of RDS Per User CALs on this licence server.

In guild to fix this alarm. Get to the windows services section and restart the windows service named " Remote Desktop Licensing service" and Click Ok.

Once more, Correct click our "server proper name" in the "RD Licensing Managing director" then click "Review Configuration". This time we tin encounter no warnings appears and our RDS CAL Licence Install is successful.

We tin besides see The New license cardinal nosotros just added from the  "Licence manager" itself and a green tick appears side by side to our Windows server proper noun.

How To Diagnose Remote Desktop Licence

Use the "Remote Desktop License Diagnoser" for checking whatever bug with the RDS CAL Licence Server.

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

In Our case nosotros become 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 fashion for the Remote Desktop Session Host Server is not configured.
  • The Remote Desktop Session Host server is within its grace menstruation, just the RD session Host server has non been configured with any licence server.

Normally this fault will get on RD Licence server, when nosotros haven't configured the correct group policy for Licencing Server. So lets run into 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

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, and so Enter Our server name shows up in the Remote Desktop Licence Manager and click on Employ

Now Double click on "Set the Remote Desktop licensing style" >> click enable, then select "Per User" or "Per Device" as per your Licence and Use

At present restart Remote Desktop Licensing service from the Windows services department and  click the Refresh button available in the right side from the RD Licensing Diagnoser. We can run into  the diagnoser showed the bulletin as " RD Licensing Diagnoser did non identify any licensing problems for the Remote Desktop Session Host server.  Additional information like, Licence mode and Number of Licenses will likewise appear in the same window.

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

How to Rebuild the RDS Licence

Some times we may come across situation similar, nosotros  demand to add more users to the RDS CAL User blazon Licence, Need to Alter the User type CAL into Device CAL or The Installed Licence has become corrupted. In such cases, we can correct those issues past rebuilding the current RDS Licence.

For that Correct click our "server name" in the "RD Licensing Director" then click "Manage Licenses"

Click Side by side on the Welcome to the Manage licenses Sorcerer.

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

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

This volition delete the current Licence installed in the server and will prompt the Licence install stride 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 some other,  in such cases we can remove installed CAL licenses pack from the electric current  licensing server using ii 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 control. We tin can become the KeyPackID value from the Remote Desktop Licence Managing director Itself.

         two.  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 volition delete  all the RDS CAL licenses in the server and we need to reactivate them for farther usage.

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

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