The initial configuration of RDS doesn’t configure licensing. However, a functional RDS deploy-ment in production must have licensing properly configured to ensure that users can connect.
To configure licensing for RDS, you need to complete the following tasks:
● Set the licensing mode
● Install an RD Licensing server
● Activate an RD Licensing server
● Install and activate CALs
To install an RD Licensing server, perform the following steps:
1. In Server Manager, in the navigation pane, click Remote Desktop Services.
2. On the Overview page, in the Deployment Overview area, click RD Licensing.
3. In the Add RD Licensing Servers Wizard, on the Select A Server page, double-click the server you want to configure as an RD Licensing server and click Next.
4. On the Confirmation page, click Add.
5. Wait until the installation is complete and click Close.
To set the licensing mode for an RDS deployment, perform the following steps:
1. In Server Manager, in the navigation pane, click Remote Desktop Services.
2. On the Overview page, in the Deployment Overview area, click Tasks and click Edit Deployment Properties.
3. In the Deployment Properties window, in the navigation pane, click RD Licensing.
4. On the RD Licensing page, select Per Device or Per User and click OK.
The Microsoft Clearinghouse is the service that is used to activate RD Licensing servers and RDS CALs. When you install an RD Licensing server, you need to activate it before it can be begin servicing clients. To do this, you use Remote Desktop Licensing Manager
(RD Licensing Manager), shown in Figure 8-21. RD Licensing Manager is installed on each RD Licensing server.
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Figure 8-21 RD Licensing Manager
When you activate an RD Licensing server, you need to exchange information with the Microsoft Clearinghouse. You can choose from the following connection methods:
● Automatic Connection (Recommended) Transfers the necessary information between the RD Licensing server and the Microsoft Clearinghouse over the Internet.
The RD Licensing server must have connectivity to the Internet.
● Web Browser Requires you to enter a Product ID at the website
https://activate.microsoft.com. Then, you type the license server ID provided by the website into the Activate Server Wizard. Use this connection method if the RD Licensing server does not have access to the Internet.
● Telephone Requires you to phone the Microsoft Clearinghouse and provide the Product ID for your server. You are then give a license server ID, which you need to enter into the Activate Server Wizard. Use this connection method if you have no access to the Internet.
Installing RDS CALs is a similar process to activating an RD Licensing server. The same con-nectivity methods to the Microsoft Clearinghouse are supported. The installation process automatically uses the method that you used when activating the server. You can change the connectivity method in the Properties of the server if required.
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To activate an RD Licensing server over the Internet, perform the following steps:
1. In Server Manager, click Tools, point to Terminal Services, and click Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
2. Right-click the licensing server and click Activate Server.
3. In the Activate Server Wizard, on the Welcome To The Activate Server Wizard page, click Next.
4. On the Connection Method page, in the Connection Method box, select Automatic Connection (Recommended) and click Next.
5. If you have not already configured the company information for your server, you are prompted to do so. On the Company Information page, enter the required company information and click Next.
6. On the next Company Information page, if desired, enter the optional information and click Next.
7. On the Completing The Activate Server Wizard page, deselect the Start Install Licenses Wizard Now check box and click Finish.
8. Right-click the server and click Review Configuration.
9. In the Server Configuration window, shown in Figure 8-22, click Add To Group.
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Figure 8-22 License server configuration
10. In the RD Licensing Manager window, click Continue to acknowledge the warning about requiring Domain Admin privileges.
11. In the RD Licensing Manager dialog box, click OK to acknowledge that the server has been added to the Terminal Server License Servers Group.
12. In the Server Configuration window, click OK.
To install RDS CALs over the Internet, perform the following steps:
1. In Server Manager, click Tools, point to Terminal Services, and click Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
2. Right-click the license server and click Install Licenses.
3. In the Install Licenses Wizard, on the Welcome To The Install Licenses Wizard page, click Next.
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4. On the License Program page, select the license program used to purchase your RDS CALs and click Next. Available license programs include Open License, Enterprise Agreement, Campus Agreement, and more.
5. Enter the information requested and click Next. The information requested varies depending on the licensing program used, but it will include either a license code or an agreement number.
6. On the Product Version And License Type page, enter the product version, license type, and number of RDS CALs based on your license and click Next.
7. Wait while the Microsoft Clearinghouse processes the request and the RDS CALs are installed and then click Finish.