How to set up a Terminal Server License (Step by Step)

Find out how to set up an RDS terminal server license server and how to check your terminal server license step-by-step using a terminal server we deployed on our SIM-Cloud. If you’ve encountered the “the remote session was disconnected because there are no terminal server license servers available to provide a license. please contact the server administrator” issue, this guide will give you the steps necessary to avoid it.

Installing the Remote Desktop Licensing Role Service

All of the following actions are performed under the Administrator account:

Step 1. We go along the path:

Start → Administrative Tools → Server Management.

Step 2. There are two options:

2.1. Option one - if the role of Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Server) is not yet installed:

2.1.1. In the Role Summary section, select Add Roles.

2.1.2. On the Add Roles Wizard Getting Started page, click Next.

2.1.3. On the Select Server Roles page, check the Remote Desktop Services checkbox and click Next.

2.1.4. On the Remote Desktop Services page, click Next.

2.1.5. On the Select Role Services page, check the Remote Desktop Licensing checkbox and click Next.

2.2. Option two - if the Remote Desktop Services role is already installed.

2.2.1. In the Role Summary area, select Remote Desktop Services.

2.2.2. In the Role Services section, select Add Role Services.

2.2.3. On the Select Role Services page, check the Remote Desktop Licensing checkbox and click Next.

3. On the Configure RD Licensing Discovery Scope page, set the discovery scope for the license server.

Important! In fact, configuring a discovery scope for the license server is not recommended. Instead, use the RD Session Host Configuration tool to specify the license server that will be used by the RD Session Host (Terminal Server) server.

4. On the Confirm your selections tab, verify that the RD Licensing role service is selected for installation, and then click Install.

5. On the Installation Results page, verify that the installation of the RD Licensing role service was completed successfully, and then click Close.

Activating the Remote Desktop License Server

Activating a license server is required to certify terminal server licensing on it and obtain permission to issue Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs). You can activate the license server by using the Server Activation Wizard in the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool.

There are three methods for activating the license server:

Method 1: Automatic activation of the Remote Desktop license server

Automatic activation requires an Internet connection to check the terminal server license on the computer running the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool. Sequencing:

1. Start → Administrative Tools → Remote Desktop Services → Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.

2. Right-click the license server you want to activate and select Activate Server. The Server Activation Wizard will start.

3. Click the Next button.

4. On the Connection Method page, in the Installation Method list, select Auto-connect (recommended) and then click Next.

5. On the Organization Information page, enter your name, company name, country, or region, and then click Next.

6. You may also enter any other information you wish to provide (such as an email address or company address), but this is not required.

7. Click Next. The license server is activated.

8. On the Com**pleting the Server Activation Wizard** page, do one of the following:

• to install Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs) on the license server, check the Run the License Installation Wizard checkbox, click the Next button and follow the wizard's instructions;
• To install Remote Desktop Services CALs later, clear the Run the License Installation Wizard checkbox and click Finish. Check the Remote Desktop licensing status, and it will be activated.

Method 2: Activate the Remote Desktop License Server Using a Web Browser

You can read more about this activation method here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc726065(v=ws.11).aspx

Method 3: Activate the Remote Desktop License Server by Phone

Detailed information is available here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732129(v=ws.11).aspx

As a result of activating the license server, Microsoft provides the server with a limited-use digital certificate that verifies the owner and identity of the server. For this, certificates that comply with the X.509 industry-standard are used. Using such a certificate, the license server can subsequently communicate with Microsoft.

If the license server is not activated, it can only issue temporary RDS Per User CALs or RDS Per Device CALs; in this case, the terminal server grace period is 90 days.

Installing Remote Desktop Services CALs

Three methods are supported for installing Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs) on a license server.

Method 1: Install Remote Desktop Services CALs automatically

Automatic installation requires an Internet connection on the computer running the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool.

1. On the license server, open the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager: Start → Administrative Tools → Remote Desktop Services → Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. 2. Verify that the connection method for the Remote Desktop License Server is set to Auto-Connect (recommended). To do this, right-click the license server on which you want to install Remote Desktop Services CALs and select Properties. Change the connection method, if necessary, on the Connection Method tab, and then click OK.

3. Right-click the license server on which you want to install Remote Desktop Services CALs and select Install Licenses. The License Installation Wizard will start.

4. Click the Next button.

5. On the Licensing Program page, select the program with which you purchased the Remote Desktop Services CALs and then click Next.

6. The licensing program you selected on the previous page of the wizard will determine what information you need to enter on this page. In most cases, you must provide either a license code or an agreement number. Refer to the documentation that you received when you purchased your Remote Desktop Services CALs.

7. After entering the required information, click Next.

8. On the Product Version and License Type page, specify the appropriate product version, license type, and the number of Remote Desktop Services CALs in your environment according to the RDS CAL purchase agreement, and then click Next.

9. The data entered will be automatically transmitted to the Microsoft Clearinghouse to process your request. The Remote Desktop Services CALs are then automatically installed on the license server.

10. Click Finish to complete the process. The license server can now issue Remote Desktop Services CALs to clients that connect to the Remote Desktop Session Host (Terminal Server) server.

Method 2: Install Remote Desktop Services CALs using a web browser

The procedure is described in detail at the link: https://technet.microsoft.com/ru-ru/library/cc772037(v=ws.11).aspx

Method 3: Install Remote Desktop Services CALs by phone

Learn more: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc770965(v=ws.11).aspx

Important! Before you install Remote Desktop Services CALs on a license server, consider the following:

• Before starting the process of installing Remote Desktop Services CALs on the license server, you must first activate the Remote Desktop License Server;
• You need a license code to install Remote Desktop Services CALs on the license server. A license code is issued when you purchase Remote Desktop Services CALs;
• You can install Per User and Per Device CALs at the same time on the same license server.

Configuring Licensing Options on the RD Session Host Server

All users or computing devices that connect to the server must have a valid Remote Desktop Services CAL issued by the Remote Desktop Licensing Server.

After you install and configure the license server, you must perform the following steps on the Remote Desktop Session Host (Terminal Server) server to enable the server to connect to the license server to request Remote Desktop Services CALs:

Step 1: Select the Remote Desktop Licensing Mode on the RD Session Host Server 1.1. On the RD Session Host server, open the RD Session Host Configuration component. To open Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration, click Start, then Administrative Tools, Remote Desktop Services, and then Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.

1.2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, make sure the box says the action you want, and then select Yes.

1.3. In the Licensing pane, under Change settings, double-click Remote Desktop Licensing Mode.

1.4. On the Licensing tab of the Properties dialog box, select the Per Device or Per User license type that best matches your environment of choice, which means that the Group Policy setting Specify Remote Desktop Licensing Mode has been enabled and applied to the Remote Desktop Session Host (Terminal) server. server).

1.5. After you select the Remote Desktop licensing mode, you must specify the license server that will be used by the Remote Desktop Session Host (Terminal Server) server. For more information, see the section below - Selecting the license server used by the RD Session Host Server.

1.6. Click OK to save your changes to the licensing settings.

Step 2: Select the license server used by the RD Session Host Server 2.1. On the RD Session Host server, open the RD Session Host Configuration component. To open Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration, click Start, then Administrative Tools, Remote Desktop Services, and then Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration.

2.2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, make sure the box says the action you want, and then select Yes.

2.3. In the Licensing pane, under Change settings, double-click Remote Desktop Licensing Servers.

2.4. On the Licensing tab of the Properties dialog box, click Add.

2.5. In the Add License Server dialog box, select a license server from the list and click Add. If the required license server is not listed, in the Name or IP address of the license server field, enter the name or IP address of the license server that you want to add, and then click Add.

2.6. Click OK to close the Add License Server dialog box, and then click OK to save your changes to the licensing settings.

You can also specify a license server for a Remote Desktop Session Host (Terminal Server) server by using the Use Specified Remote Desktop Terminal server License Servers Group Policy This Group Policy setting is located in Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Licensing. You can use the Local Group Policy Editor or the Group Policy Management Console to configure it. Note that the Group Policy setting will take precedence over the license servers configured in Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration..

Sources:

• https://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/cc731765(v=ws.11).aspx
• https://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/cc771547(v=ws.11).aspx
• https://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/cc725890(v=ws.11).aspx
• https://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/cc771641(v=ws.11).aspx

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