How to add a New Server to a Domain for with an existing Licensing Server for Remote Desktop Connection?

Question

There are currently two servers on the Domain with DC1 as a domain controller running the Licencing Role for Remote Desktop and APP as an Application Server where users log in remotely to do their work.

DC1 – (Domain Controller)
-RD Licensing Role

APP (Production Server)
-RD Session Host
-RD Connection Broker
-RD Gateway

APP2 (New server to be deployed)

Objective- Add a new server "APP2" to the domain for multiple users to connect at a time.
I am not too sure on how to go about adding a new server to a network that already has an existing licensing server.

Is it feasible to connect APP2 to the Server with the licencing role (DC1) so that more than one user can log in at a time?

Answer 1

Hi,

May I know if you would like to add APP2 server as only a separate RD session host into current RDS deployment?

If so, please follow below steps.

1. Join the APP2 server to the current domain of the licensing server (DC1)
   
2. Install RD Session Host role on APP2 server
3. On APP server (RDCB), open Server Manager -> Manage -> Add Servers -> Type the host name of APP2 server and add it to the server pool
   
   
4. Remote Desktop Services ->Collections -> click "TASKS" on the "HOST SERVERS" part -> Add RD Session Host Servers -> Select the APP2 server ->Add
   
   

If you would like to create a session collection to include both APP Server and APP2 Server for load balance, please also follow below steps after completing above actions.

5. Remote Desktop Services ->Collections -> click "TASKS" on the "Collections" part ->Create Session Collection ->type the collection name -> select both APP Server and APP2 servers ->Keep next
   
   
   

After above steps, the existing licensing server will issue CALs for both APP server and APP2 Server. You can check your licensing server configuration by below.

Remote Desktop Services -> Collections -> TASKS -> Edit Deployment Properties -> RD Licensing

Thanks,
Eleven

Answer 2

Hi,

If you also would like to install RDCB and RD Gateway roles to APP2, I think this APP2 will be used as a separate session host sever, right?

If so, you can proceed a new RDS deployment on this APP2 Server, with RD session host, RDCB, RD Gateway roles installed. And when configuring the licensing server, you just need to select the DC1 as the licensing server. By this way, DC1 will also issue CALs for this new APP2 server.

For RDS deployment, please refer to below link for detailed steps.

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

Thanks,
Eleven