How to Install and Activate RDS CALs for Windows Server 2008 R2
Set up the Remote Desktop Licensing role service and Remote Desktop Session Host by following these steps:
Installing the Remote Desktop Licensing role.
- Open Server Manager by clicking on its icon in the taskbar.
- Select Roles on the top left, then click Add roles.
- In the Add Roles Wizard, click Next.
- On the Select Server Roles page, check the box for Remote Desktop Services and click Next.
- Click Next.
- On the next page, check the boxes for Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host, then click Next.
- Click Next to install the Remote Desktop Session Host.
- Choose Do not require Network Level Authentication and click Next.
- Select the type of RDS CALs license (per user or per device), then click Next.
- Enter the users who will connect to the server and click Next.
- Select the options you want to enable for users, then click Next.
- Click Next.
- Click Install.
- Wait for the role to be configured. Once complete, select Close and click Yes to restart the server and finish the installation.
- After installing the roles, activate the Remote Desktop Licensing server by clicking on Server Manager in the taskbar.
- Click on the + sign next to Roles and select Remote Desktop Services.
- Scroll down and click Remote Desktop Licensing Manager under the Advanced Tools tab.
- Right-click on the server and select Activate Server.
- The server activation wizard will open. Click Next.
- Click Next.
- Enter the company name and region, then click Next.
- Enter the company information and click Next.
- The server activation wizard is complete. Click Next.
- Review your server configuration and click Next.
- In the License Program, select Pack. lic. (Box or prod. pack) and click Next.
- Enter your RDS CALs product key and click Add.
- After the license is recognized, click Next.
- The License Installation Wizard will confirm the successful installation. Click Finish.
- Your licensing server is now ready to issue and manage licenses. Verify this by selecting your server's name to see the available and issued licenses, which should be zero initially.
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Note: In this guide, we will choose the Per device option.
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