How to Install and Activate the RDS Licensing Role on Windows Server 2016

Activate 2016 RDS License Server in Windows Server 2016

In this article we will see that how to install RDS license , Role and activate. The Remote Desktop Services license server issues client access licenses (CALs) to users and devices when they access the RD Session Host. You can activate the license server by using the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.

Install the RD Licensing role:-

Sign into the server you want to use as the license server using an administrator account >
In Server Manager > click Roles Summary > then click Add Roles > Click Next on the first page of the roles wizard.

Select Remote Desktop Services > then click Next > then Next on the Remote Desktop Services page >




Select Remote Desktop Licensing > then click Next. 




  then click Next > Click Install > Close (Once installation done).

Activate the license server:-

Open the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager: click Start > Administrative Tools > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.

Right-click the license server > then click Activate Server.



Click Next on the welcome page.

For the connection method > select Automatic connection (recommended) > then click Next.


Enter your company information (your name, the company name, your geographic region) > and then click Next > Optionally enter any other company information (for example, email and company addresses) >  then click Next.


Make sure that Start Install Licenses Wizard now is not selected (we'll install the licenses in a later step) >  and then click Next.



Your license server is now ready to start issuing and managing licenses.

Install RDS client access licenses on the Remote Desktop license server:-

On the license server > open the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager > Right-click the license server > then click Install licenses > Click Next on the welcome page.


Select the program you purchased your RDS CALs & Select the activation method (automatic, online or by phone) and the license program (in our case, it is Enterprise Agreement).







Enter the information for your license program. In most cases, this will be the license code or an agreement number, but this varies depending on the license program you're using >
Click Next.


Select the product version, license type, and number of licenses for your environment, and then click Next >The license manager contacts the Microsoft Clearinghouse to validate and retrieve your licenses > Click Finish to complete the process.

 Configure GPO for RDS licensing:-

When configuring via GPO, you need to create a new GPO and link it to the OU with RDS servers. The licensing settings are located in the following section of the GPO:

Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Admin Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Licensing

There are 2 policies that we need:

Use the specified Remote Desktop license servers – the address of the License Server is set
Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode – the licensing method is selected

You can check the License Server status and the number of the issued licenses using RD Licensing Diagnoser (Administrative Tools -> Remote Desktop Services -> RD Licensing Diagnoser).