By default, Windows will allow for up to 2 Remote Desktop connections at a time. If I require 3 Remote Desktop connections at any one time, would I need to purchase 1 x Remote Desktop Client Access License for the extra user or x3 both along with enabling Remote Desktop Services?
Here is the best explanation I've heard for Microsoft licensing. The way it was explained is: 1 Device CAL = Unlimited connections to THAT device. Meaning as many users as you want. 1 User CAL = Unlimited connections to as many servers as you want FOR ONE USER. Which is why the RDS Cal thing confused me. It sounds like you would need to purchase 1 Device CAL in this case.
@@indigosoftware9625 You got some bad info on the device portion. Device CAL is consumed the by the device that connects to the server, not the server itself. So if you have 10 PCs connecting to a terminal server, you would need 10 device CALs. If you have a bunch of people sharing a workstation, it's cheaper to buy one device CAL for that station. If you have people with multiple devices, i.e. employees have a desktop at the office and a laptop at home, and they wants to use both, that's one user and two devices each, so in that case it's better to buy user CALs.
@@indigosoftware9625 are you sure is unlimited connection to that device? from ms documentation they say: "With a Device CAL, you purchase a CAL for every device that accesses your server, regardless of the number of users who use that device to access the server." So, if I have 1 user that use 5 device, I need to purchase 5 licence in order to let him join the server
My users remote onto their own desktop from home. I want to let them share a server so there are like 10 people on 1 server maybe not all at the same time. Do i need to buy 1 windows server license and 1 rds device CAL? Then they can all remote on and use it instead of their own desktop? Thanks
I believe you would need the following: -10 user Cals -1 Windows Server License The choice between device and user cals usually comes down to whether you'll have more devices or users. And in this case, it sounds like you'll have more users. Hope this helps!
If you license for say 2022 RDS CALS, will that encompass any and all earlier releases of RDS servers such as 2019, 2016, 2012 R2 that may be form other included collections?
Yes, if you purchase 2022 RDS CALs (Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses), they will be backward compatible and can be used to access earlier versions of RDS servers, such as 2019, 2016, and 2012 R2. This means you can use the 2022 RDS CALs to connect to RDS servers running these previous versions without any issues.
Hello, how can I delete an installation of cal rds licenses for Windows Server 2022, I installed them and revoked the licenses, I want to delete them from the Windows registry and reinstall other licenses with a different serial number, what do I have to do to delete them or do I have to format the server, I appreciate your help or advice, thank you
To delete RDS CAL licenses from Windows Server 2022 and install new ones: Stop Licensing Service: Open services.msc, find Remote Desktop Licensing, and stop the service. Delete License Info: Open regedit and navigate to: Copy code HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSLicensing Right-click MSLicensing and delete the key. Restart Licensing Service: Go back to services.msc and start Remote Desktop Licensing. Install New RDS CALs: Open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager and reinstall the new licenses. This will let you remove the old licenses and install the new ones.
dd your server to the domain. One of the reasons that this Windows Server 2019 Remote Desktop License Issue 60 minutes appear is that you have activated the RDS User CAL license (Per user), but your server is not part of the domain. So the first solution is to add your server to the domain.
Making an RDS (Remote Desktop Services) License Server highly available (HA) involves creating redundancy to ensure licenses are always available, even if one server goes offline. Here's a concise guide: Steps to Configure RDS License Server for High Availability (HA) Deploy Multiple License Servers: Install and configure at least two RDS License Servers on separate machines to avoid a single point of failure. Activate Each License Server: On each server: Open the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. Right-click the server and choose Activate Server. Follow the wizard to activate each server. Install RDS CALs on Each Server: Install the same set of Client Access Licenses (CALs) on all license servers to ensure consistency. Configure License Server Discovery Mode: In Group Policy, configure license server discovery: Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Licensing. Enable Specify the license servers and list all license servers (e.g., Server1, Server2). Set Load Balancing for License Servers: Use DNS Round Robin: Create a single DNS name (e.g., rds-licenses.example.com) pointing to both license servers. Alternatively, use a load balancer to distribute traffic between license servers. Monitor License Server Health: Use tools like Performance Monitor or third-party software to monitor the availability and performance of each server. Test Failover: Simulate a server failure by shutting down one license server. Verify that session hosts can still acquire licenses from the other server. Backup Configuration Regularly: Back up the license database regularly to ensure you can recover licenses in case of corruption or failure: The database is located in %systemroot%\System32\LServer. Important Considerations Licensing Database Consistency: Ensure the same licenses are installed on all servers. Licenses are not automatically synchronized between servers. Costs: Each server must have its own RDS CALs, which might increase costs. Failover Duration: HA setup for licensing improves resilience but may not provide instant failover for licensing requests. Let me know if you need additional details on any of these steps! 😊
Hi i have purchased license as rds 50 device cal and then i have activated now the domain set to ok Configuration part also good But Still i am facing only 2 user able to login
If you're facing an issue where only 2 users can log in despite having purchased and activated 50 device RDS CALs, follow these steps: Check License Configuration: Ensure the RDS Licensing role is correctly installed and configured. Verify that the RDS CALs are properly installed on the license server. Review RDS Licensing Diagnoser: Open Server Manager > Remote Desktop Services > RD Licensing Diagnoser. Check for any configuration issues or errors. Check Group Policy Settings: Open gpedit.msc. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Licensing. Ensure the settings are correctly configured to use the license server. Restart the RDS Services: Restart the Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host services. Verify Licensing Mode: Ensure the RD Session Host server is set to Per Device mode if you purchased Device CALs. If the issue persists, contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.
By default, Windows will allow for up to 2 Remote Desktop connections at a time. If I require 3 Remote Desktop connections at any one time, would I need to purchase 1 x Remote Desktop Client Access License for the extra user or x3 both along with enabling Remote Desktop Services?
Here is the best explanation I've heard for Microsoft licensing.
The way it was explained is:
1 Device CAL = Unlimited connections to THAT device. Meaning as many users as you want.
1 User CAL = Unlimited connections to as many servers as you want FOR ONE USER.
Which is why the RDS Cal thing confused me. It sounds like you would need to purchase 1 Device CAL in this case.
@@indigosoftware9625 You got some bad info on the device portion. Device CAL is consumed the by the device that connects to the server, not the server itself. So if you have 10 PCs connecting to a terminal server, you would need 10 device CALs.
If you have a bunch of people sharing a workstation, it's cheaper to buy one device CAL for that station.
If you have people with multiple devices, i.e. employees have a desktop at the office and a laptop at home, and they wants to use both, that's one user and two devices each, so in that case it's better to buy user CALs.
@@indigosoftware9625 are you sure is unlimited connection to that device? from ms documentation they say: "With a Device CAL, you purchase a CAL for every device that accesses your server, regardless of the number of users who use that device to access the server." So, if I have 1 user that use 5 device, I need to purchase 5 licence in order to let him join the server
My users remote onto their own desktop from home. I want to let them share a server so there are like 10 people on 1 server maybe not all at the same time. Do i need to buy 1 windows server license and 1 rds device CAL? Then they can all remote on and use it instead of their own desktop? Thanks
I believe you would need the following:
-10 user Cals
-1 Windows Server License
The choice between device and user cals usually comes down to whether you'll have more devices or users. And in this case, it sounds like you'll have more users.
Hope this helps!
If you license for say 2022 RDS CALS, will that encompass any and all earlier releases of RDS servers such as 2019, 2016, 2012 R2 that may be form other included collections?
Yes, if you purchase 2022 RDS CALs (Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses), they will be backward compatible and can be used to access earlier versions of RDS servers, such as 2019, 2016, and 2012 R2. This means you can use the 2022 RDS CALs to connect to RDS servers running these previous versions without any issues.
Hello, how can I delete an installation of cal rds licenses for Windows Server 2022, I installed them and revoked the licenses, I want to delete them from the Windows registry and reinstall other licenses with a different serial number, what do I have to do to delete them or do I have to format the server, I appreciate your help or advice, thank you
To delete RDS CAL licenses from Windows Server 2022 and install new ones:
Stop Licensing Service:
Open services.msc, find Remote Desktop Licensing, and stop the service.
Delete License Info:
Open regedit and navigate to:
Copy code
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSLicensing
Right-click MSLicensing and delete the key.
Restart Licensing Service:
Go back to services.msc and start Remote Desktop Licensing.
Install New RDS CALs:
Open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager and reinstall the new licenses.
This will let you remove the old licenses and install the new ones.
what about 60 minutes session limitation after activation?
dd your server to the domain. One of the reasons that this Windows Server 2019 Remote Desktop License Issue 60 minutes appear is that you have activated the RDS User CAL license (Per user), but your server is not part of the domain. So the first solution is to add your server to the domain.
How to make RDS license server HA?
Making an RDS (Remote Desktop Services) License Server highly available (HA) involves creating redundancy to ensure licenses are always available, even if one server goes offline. Here's a concise guide:
Steps to Configure RDS License Server for High Availability (HA)
Deploy Multiple License Servers:
Install and configure at least two RDS License Servers on separate machines to avoid a single point of failure.
Activate Each License Server:
On each server:
Open the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
Right-click the server and choose Activate Server.
Follow the wizard to activate each server.
Install RDS CALs on Each Server:
Install the same set of Client Access Licenses (CALs) on all license servers to ensure consistency.
Configure License Server Discovery Mode:
In Group Policy, configure license server discovery:
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Licensing.
Enable Specify the license servers and list all license servers (e.g., Server1, Server2).
Set Load Balancing for License Servers:
Use DNS Round Robin:
Create a single DNS name (e.g., rds-licenses.example.com) pointing to both license servers.
Alternatively, use a load balancer to distribute traffic between license servers.
Monitor License Server Health:
Use tools like Performance Monitor or third-party software to monitor the availability and performance of each server.
Test Failover:
Simulate a server failure by shutting down one license server.
Verify that session hosts can still acquire licenses from the other server.
Backup Configuration Regularly:
Back up the license database regularly to ensure you can recover licenses in case of corruption or failure:
The database is located in %systemroot%\System32\LServer.
Important Considerations
Licensing Database Consistency: Ensure the same licenses are installed on all servers. Licenses are not automatically synchronized between servers.
Costs: Each server must have its own RDS CALs, which might increase costs.
Failover Duration: HA setup for licensing improves resilience but may not provide instant failover for licensing requests.
Let me know if you need additional details on any of these steps! 😊
Hi i have purchased license as rds 50 device cal and then i have activated now the domain set to ok
Configuration part also good
But Still i am facing only 2 user able to login
If you're facing an issue where only 2 users can log in despite having purchased and activated 50 device RDS CALs, follow these steps:
Check License Configuration:
Ensure the RDS Licensing role is correctly installed and configured.
Verify that the RDS CALs are properly installed on the license server.
Review RDS Licensing Diagnoser:
Open Server Manager > Remote Desktop Services > RD Licensing Diagnoser.
Check for any configuration issues or errors.
Check Group Policy Settings:
Open gpedit.msc.
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Licensing.
Ensure the settings are correctly configured to use the license server.
Restart the RDS Services:
Restart the Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host services.
Verify Licensing Mode:
Ensure the RD Session Host server is set to Per Device mode if you purchased Device CALs.
If the issue persists, contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.