Installing the Windows Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Client Access License (CAL) ensures legality and maximum performance on your Windows server. Therefore, in this read, we will guide you through a step-by-step guide on how to install a Windows Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Client Access License (CAL) on a Windows server.
Pre-requisites
- Valid RDS CAL license.
- Administrator access to your Windows server.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Role Installation for Remote Desktop Services
Log in to your Windows Server as an administrator and open Server Manager. We need to install the role for Remote Desktop Services from the server manager option.
Select the Remote Desktop Services option and then click on “NEXT.” It will lead you to the next option, where you have to make selections based on the additional features present in the Remote Desktop Services.
In the latter two screenshots, we have enabled two features and proceeded with “NEXT.” Now, after this, a new window will open up, in which we will install the role.
Activate Server
After installing and opening up the server, we will click the “Install” button visible on the bottom right of the screen, and the role installation will start.
Role installation takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. Once installed, close the window, and finally, “reboot” the server.
After the reboot of the server is completed successfully, you will see there is an option called remote desktop services in the toolbar of the server manager.
Move ahead and click on Remote Desktop Services, and then select the “Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.”
Start the License Installation Process:
The process of license installation may happen automatically or it can be done manually.
- Automatic Installation: It will automatically install on the server when the license is activated.
- Manual Installation: You may still be able to manually install the license if auto-installation does not work. Follow the instructions that will appear on your computer screen during the installation process.
In the above screenshot, you can notice the license is not activated yet. So the next step is activation of the license. Right-click on the license and select the “Activate Server” option. This will open a new window; proceed further with the “Next” button.
Once you click the next button, you’ll be asked for the details. Completed filling out all the required information to get our server started. Once they are filled, you will have activated the licensing server. Now, we will give the go-ahead to install the license by clicking the ‘Next’ button.
Choose Your License Program
1. It will automatically prompt and ask you to choose the license program applicable to your installation at installation time.
2. Pick the offer according to your licensing needs and usage scenario.
Agreement Number
Provide the agreement number for the purchase of RDS CAL. This is to confirm a license.
The next step is to choose the OS and then the license type along with the license quantity. Click on “Next,” and then click on “Finish” after specifying your needs.
That’s it. This way, we have successfully installed the CAL license now on your Windows Server.
It will ensure that your remote desktop services are fully compliant and secured.
