Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services Licensing Crack

Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services Licensing

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a role service in Windows Server 2008 R2 that allows users to access applications and desktops remotely from a server. RDS requires client access licenses (CALs) to be installed and activated on a license server, and assigned to users or devices that connect to the RDS session hosts. This article will explain how RDS licensing works, how to install and activate RDS CALs, and how to manage RDS CALs.

How RDS Licensing Works

RDS licensing has two components: the license server and the RDS CALs. The license server is a computer that runs the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool, which stores and tracks the RDS CALs. The RDS CALs are licenses that grant users or devices the right to access the RDS session hosts. There are two types of RDS CALs: per user and per device. Per user RDS CALs are assigned to individual users in Active Directory, and allow them to access the RDS session hosts from any device. Per device RDS CALs are assigned to specific devices, and allow any user to access the RDS session hosts from those devices.

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RDS CALs are version-specific, meaning that they can only be used with the same or lower version of Windows Server. For example, a Windows Server 2012 R2 RDS CAL can be used with Windows Server 2012 R2, 2012, 2008 R2, or 2008, but not with Windows Server 2016 or 2019. The following table shows the compatibility of different versions of RDS CALs with different versions of license servers:

RDS CAL version

2008 license server

2008 R2 license server

2012 license server

2012 R2 license server

2016 license server

2019 license server

2022 license server

2008

Yes

No

2008 R2

Yes

No

2012

Yes

No

The table is based on the information from [License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs)].

How to Install and Activate RDS CALsTo install and activate RDS CALs, you need to have a license server that is activated and connected to the Internet or a telephone line. You also need to have purchased the appropriate number and type of RDS CALs from Microsoft or a reseller. The steps to install and activate RDS CALs are as follows:

Open the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager: click Start > Administrative Tools > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.Right-click the license server, and then click Activate Server.Click Next on the welcome page.For the connection method, select Automatic connection (recommended), and then click Next.Enter your company information and click Next.If you have a proxy server, enter its settings and click Next.On the confirmation page, click Next.On the completion page, click Next.Click Finish to close the wizard.Right-click the license server, and then click Install Licenses.Click Next on the welcome page.Select the license program that you purchased the RDS CALs from, such as Enterprise Agreement or Open License, and then click Next.Enter the license code or agreement number that you received from Microsoft or your reseller, and then click Next.Select the product version, license type, and quantity of RDS CALs that you want to install, and then click Next.On the confirmation page, click Next.On the completion page, click Finish.The steps are based on the information from [Activate the Remote Desktop Services license server].

How to Manage RDS CALsTo manage RDS CALs, you need to configure the RDS session hosts to use the license server and specify the licensing mode. You also need to monitor the usage and availability of RDS CALs, and revoke or reassign them as needed. The steps to manage RDS CALs are as follows:

On each RDS session host, open the Local Group Policy Editor: click Start > Run, type gpedit.msc, and then click OK.Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Licensing.In the policy list, right-click Use the specified Remote Desktop license servers, and then select Properties.Select Enabled, and then enter the name of the license server under License servers to use. Click OK.In the policy list, right-click Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode, and then select Properties.Select Enabled, and then select either Per Device or Per User under Licensing mode. Click OK.Close the Local Group Policy Editor and restart the RDS session host.To monitor the usage and availability of RDS CALs, open the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager: click Start > Administrative Tools > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.In the left pane, expand All servers and select your license server.In the right pane, you can see the number of installed, available, issued, and expired RDS CALs for each type and version. You can also see the details of each RDS CAL by double-clicking it.To revoke or reassign RDS CALs, right-click your license server and select Manage Licenses. Follow the wizard to complete the process. Note that you can only revoke up to 20% of per device RDS CALs once every 90 days. You cannot revoke per user RDS CALs.The steps are based on the information from [License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs)] and [Cannot connect to RDS because no RD Licensing servers are available].

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