RDS server licensing

Question

I am trying to understand RDS licensing.

my main question is this: Does a Windows 2019 RDS session host require a separate RDS license from the pre-user CALS that are deployed from the RDS license server?

I have a farm of Windows 2019 RDS servers setup to use per-user licensing. Today no one could logon because the servers claimed there were no license servers to provide a license. The fix was to reset the RDS grace period.

The problem appears to be the server was missing a license despite the fact I am using per-user.

I ran license diagnoser on both the RDS session host and the RDS license server, but no problems were found. License server is set via GPO and the correct values were found in the registry. I can see that pre-user licenses have been doled out.

Am I missing something? If I am licensed per-user, should the server require a separate license.

Answer 1

Hello @Derek Benak ,

1.The Session Host server logs a warning when the grace period is about to expire. At the end of the grace period, if there is not a license server present with valid RDS CALs installed, users will no longer be able to establish RDP sessions on the RD Session Host server. So it will be necessary to ensure that it is configured to connect to a valid RD license server and that the appropriate RDS CALs have been purchased and installed.
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/17b1582e-16fd-4e08-8d1f-a4ab4623ba60/what-happens-when-the-rds-licensing-grace-period-during-which-no-license-server-is-required?forum=ws2016

2.Did you activate the Remote Desktop Services license server and install RDS client access licenses on the Remote Desktop license server?
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-activate-license-server
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-install-cals

3.The following document will give you better understanding on how RD Licensing role works.
https://nedimmehic.org/2018/04/16/remote-desktop-services-2016-licensing/

Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Best regards,
Leila

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Answer 2

Hello @Derek Benak ,

Just checking in to see if the information provided was helpful.
Please let us know if you would like further assistance.