How to Install and Activate RDS CALs on Windows Server 2008 R2

To install the Remote Desktop Licensing role service and Remote Desktop Session Host, follow these instructions:

Setting up Remote Desktop Licensing role.

1. Launch Server Manager by clicking its icon on the taskbar.

2. Click Roles in the top left corner, then click Add roles.

3. In the Add Roles Wizard, click Next.

4. Select Remote Desktop Services on the Select Server Roles page and click Next.

5. Click Next again.

6. Tick the boxes for Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host, then click Next.

7. Proceed by clicking Next to install the Remote Desktop Session Host.

8. Choose Do not require Network Level Authentication and click Next.

9. Select the type of RDS CALs license you want to configure (per user or per device) and click Next.
Note: For this guide, we will select the Per device option.

10. Add the users who will access the server and click Next.

11. Enable the desired options for users and click Next.

12. Click Next once more.

13. Finally, click Install.

14. Wait for the configuration to complete. Once done, click Close and select Yes to restart the Server and finish the installation.

15. After installing the roles, activate the Remote Desktop Licensing server. Click the Server Manager icon pinned to the taskbar.

16. Click the + sign beside Roles in the top left corner, then click on Remote Desktop Services.

17. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Remote Desktop Licensing Manager under the Advanced Tools tab.

18. Right-click the server and select Activate Server.

19. The server activation wizard will open. Click Next.

20. Click Next again.

21. Enter the company name and region, then click Next.

22. Enter the company details and click Next once more.

23. The activation wizard is now complete. Click Next.

24. You will see a summary of your server configuration. Click Next.

25. In the License Program, select Pack. lic. (Box or prod. pack). Click Next.

26. Enter your RDS CALs product key and click Add.

27. Once the license is validated, click Next.

28. The License Installation Wizard will confirm successful installation. Click Finish.

29. Your licensing server is now ready to issue and manage licenses. You can verify this by selecting your server name to see the available and issued licenses, which should initially be zero.