Switching from built-in 2 admin RDS licenses to licensed remote desktop services

Question

I set up a Windows 2016 server, and prior to getting the remote desktop service role, and the user and rds CALs installed, I had done:

"cmd.exe > SystemPropertiesRemote" and checked the "Allow remote connections to this computer" box to allow the default 2 admin session to RDP into the server.

I've finished installing the remote desktop role and user and rds cals, and want to use the RDS cals (where any user can log in), and not the 2 included sessions (admin only).

Anyone know how I make this change? I tried un-checking the "Allow remote connections to this computer" box, but that seems to have shut off RDP connections entirely.

Answer 1

Hi,

Have you installed both remote desktop session host role and licensing manager role on the same windows 2016 server? Also, are the rds CALs per-user CALs or per-device CALs?

Please make sure you have completed all below actions.

1. Remote Desktop Session Host and Remote Desktop Licensing role have been installed.
   
2. Activate the Remote Desktop Services license server
   https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-activate-license-server
3. Install RDS CALs on the Remote Desktop license server
   https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-install-cals
   
4. On the Remote Desktop Session Host server，use group policy to set the Remote Desktop licensing mode (per-user or per-device) and specify the Remote Desktop licensing server.
   Computer Configration\Administrative Templates\Windows Componets\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Licensing
   

Also, you can refer to below blog for RDS deployment.

Deploying Remote Desktop Services 2016 Step-By-Step
https://nedimmehic.org/2017/01/21/deploying-remote-desktop-services-2016-step-by-step/

Thanks,
Eleven

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