Deploying and Configuring RD Licensing Server in Windows 2012 R2

Installing the RD Licensing Server Role

In Server Manager click All Servers.

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If the Server you want to Install RD License Server on is not in the list of servers, right click All Servers and select Add Servers.

In the Add Servers windows, Find the server you want to be the license server and click the arrow or double left click to add it to the Selected section on the right and click OK.

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Click Manage in the upper right of Server Manager and select Add Roles and Features.

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On the Before You Begin screen, click Next.

On the Installation Type, Select Role-based or feature-based installation.

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On the Select Destination screen, select the name of the server you want be the license server and click Next.

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On the Select server roles screen scroll down and check Remote Desktop Services. Click Next.

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On the Features screen click Next.

Click Next again on the Remote Desktop Services screen.

On the Role Service screen check Remote Desktop Licensing and click Next.

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The Add features that are required pops up.  Click Add Features.

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Click Next on the Select Role Service screen then click Install on the Confirmation Screen

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On the Installation progress screen Wait for the Feature Installation to succeed then click Close.

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You have succeeded installing RD Licensing on a server.

Configuring Windows 2012 R2 Remote Desktop Licensing

In Server Manager select All Servers.  Right click the RD License server in the Server list and select RD License Manager.

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In RD Licensing Manager, right click your license server and select Activate Server.

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On the Activate Server Wizard welcome screen, click Next.

On the Connection Method click next

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If your server does not have Internet access, you will receive the error below.

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If your server should have Internet access, you will need to fix this before you activate or you can activate by telephone. See Activating by Telephone at the end of this page.

Activating By Internet

If Automatic Connection was able to contact Microsoft by Internet, then you will see the Company Information screen.  Enter your company information and click Next.

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The next screen prompts for additional Company Information (which is optional).  Enter the information (if you want) and click Next.

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The Wizard will now attempt to contact Microsoft and activate the server.  Once it’s successful, you will see the Completing the Activate Server Wizard screen.

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If you have purchased 2012 RDS CALs (Client Access License) click Next and Start the Licenses Install Wizard.  If not Uncheck the Start Install Licenses Wizard and click Finish.

Installing RDS Client Access Licenses

If you are not continuing from the Activate server Wizard you will need to start the Install Licenses Wizard by right clicking the Activated server in RD licensing Manager and selecting Install License.

On the Welcome screen click Next.

On the License Program Screen Select the correct program for your license and click Next.  Mine are License Pack (Retail Purchase).  Then click Next.

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Enter the code for you license type and click Add for each code.  Then Click Next

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Click Finish on the Completing the Install Licenses Wizard screen.

Adding your licensing server to the Terminal Server License Server AD Group

In RD Licensing Wizard, you may notice a yellow triangle with an explanation point over the icon of you server.

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This most likely means that your server is not a member of the Terminal Server Licensing Server in AD.  You can Add the Server to the group through Active Directory Users and Computers console or you can right click the server in RD Licensing Manager and select Review Configuration…

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On the Configuration screen you can click Add to Group to add your server to Terminal Server License Servers

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A window pops up to warn that you must have Domain Admin privileges.  Click Continue to add you server to the group.

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If the server is successfully added you will see the confirmation below

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Click OK and then Ok on the Configuration screen to finish.

Configuring Remote Desktop Session Hosts server to use the license server

In Group Policy, licensing configuration is located in

Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Licensing\ Set “Use the specified Remote Desktop license servers” to enabled then enter your license servers in the in the options, separating each server with a comma.

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Set “Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode to Enabled and Specify either per Device or per User depending on the type of RDS CALs you have purchased.

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Activating by Telephone

On the Connection Method screen change the Connection Method to Telephone and click Next.

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On the Country or Region Selection screen select your country and click Next.

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On the next screen you will need to telephone Microsoft at the number listed and provide them with the Product ID from the screen.  Microsoft will provide you with a license server ID you need to Enter in the Boxes.

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Once you have entered the license server ID click Next