Comprehensive Guide to Deploying and Activating RDS CALs for Windows Server 2012 R2

Install the Remote Desktop Licensing role service and Remote Desktop Session Host by following these steps:

Remote Desktop Licensing Role Installation.

1. Open the Server Manager. To do this, click on Windows and on Server Manager.

2. Select Manage and then click on Add Roles and Features.

3. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard, click on Next.

4. Choose Role-based or feature-based installation and click on Next.

5. Select the server that will install the roles and click on Next.

6. On the Select server roles page, tick the Remote Desktop Services box and click on Next.

7. On the Select Features page, tick the Remote Server Administration Tools box.

8. After ticking the box, click on Add Features.

9. Click on Next.

10. Click on Next.

11. In the next box, tick the boxes for Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host and click on Next.

12. For the web server role, click on Next.

13. In the Select role services option, click on Next.

14. In the following image, tick the box for Automatically restart and then click on Install. Wait for the roles to be installed.

15. Once the roles have been installed, proceed to the next step to use your remote desktop service.

Licensing Server Activation

1. In the top right corner, select Tools, then select Terminal Services and click on Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.

2. Right-click on the server and select Activate Server.

3. The server activation wizard will appear. Click on Next.

4. Select the automatic connection method and click on Next.

5. Enter the requested information (first name, last name, region, and company name). Click on Next.

6. Enter the company information and click on Next.

7. Now that the licensing server is activated, start installing the license. Click on Next.

8. You'll receive a reminder of how your server is configured. Click on Next.

9. In the License Program, select License Pack (Retail Purchase). Click on Next.

10. Enter your RDS CALs product key and click on Add.

11. After the license is recognised, click on Next.

12. The license installation wizard will confirm that it has been installed correctly. Click on Finish.

13. Your licensing server is now ready to start issuing and managing licenses. You can verify this by selecting the name of your server, where you will see the available licenses and those that have been issued. In this case, it should be zero.