1. Configure Remote Desktop Services 2016
2. Deploy Remote Desktop Services 2016
3. Activate Remote Desktop Services 2016
4. Installing Remote Desktop Services On Windows Server 2016
5. Microsoft Remote Desktop Server 2016

Applies to: Windows Server (Semi-Annual Channel), Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016

Install Remote Desktop Services (RDS) to manage user access, optimize connections, and create desktop and server images. Review Build and deploy your Remote Desktop Services deployment. The following procedure assumes that Server 2016 VMs have been created for the RDS management roles (that is, Connection Broker, Web Access). Select Role-based or Feature-based installation. Select the computer as the destination server. On the Select server roles page, select Remote Desktop Services. On the Select role services page, select the Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host role services. Continue the installation.

Use the following steps to deploy the Remote Desktop servers in your environment. You can install the server roles on physical machines or virtual machines, depending on whether you are creating an on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid environment.

If you are using virtual machines for any of the Remote Desktop Services servers, make sure you have prepared those virtual machines.

1. Add all the servers you're going to use for Remote Desktop Services to Server Manager:

   1. In Server Manager, click Manage > Add Servers.
   2. Click Find Now.
   3. Click each server in the deployment (for example, Contoso-Cb1, Contoso-WebGw1, and Contoso-Sh1) and click OK.

2. Create a session-based deployment to deploy the Remote Desktop Services components:

   1. In Server Manager, click Manage > Add Roles and Features.
   2. Click Remote Desktop Services installation, Standard Deployment, and Session-based desktop deployment.
   3. Select the appropriate servers for the RD Connection Broker server, RD Web Access server, and RD Session Host server (for example, Contoso-Cb1, Contoso-WebGw1, and Contoso-SH1, respectively).
   4. Select Restart the destination server automatically if required, and then click Deploy.
   5. Wait for the deployment to complete successfully

3. Add RD License Server:

   1. In Server Manager, click Remote Desktop Services > Overview > +RD Licensing.
   2. Select the virtual machine where the RD license server will be installed (for example, Contoso-Cb1).
   3. Click Next, and then click Add.

4. Activate the RD License Server and add it to the License Servers group:

   1. In Server Manager, click Tools > Terminal Services > Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
   2. In RD Licensing Manager, select the server, and then click Action > Activate Server.
   3. Accept the default values in the Activate Server Wizard. Continue accepting default values until you reach the Company information page. Then, enter your company information.
   4. Accept the defaults for the remaining pages until the final page. Clear Start Install Licenses Wizard now, and then click Finish.
   5. Click Action > Review Configuration > Add to Group > OK. Enter credentials for a user in the AAD DC Administrators group, and register as SCP. This step might not work if you are using Azure AD Domain Services, but you can ignore any warnings or errors.

5. Add the RD Gateway server and certificate name:

   1. In Server Manager, click Remote Desktop Services > Overview > + RD Gateway.
   2. In the Add RD Gateway Servers wizard, select the virtual machine where you want to install the RD Gateway server (for example, Contoso-WebGw1).
   3. Enter the SSL certificate name for the RD Gateway server using the external fully qualified DNS Name (FQDN) of the RD Gateway server. In Azure, this is the DNS name label and uses the format servicename.location.cloudapp.azure.com. For example, contoso.westus.cloudapp.azure.com.
   4. Click Next, and then click Add.

6. Create and install self-signed certificates for the RD Gateway and RD Connection Broker servers.

   Note Imvu mac client.

   If you are providing and installing certificates from a trusted certificate authority, perform the procedures from step h to step k for each role. You will need to have the .pfx file available for each of these certificates.

   1. In Server Manager, click Remote Desktop Services > Overview > Tasks > Edit Deployment Properties.
   2. Expand Certificates, and then scroll down to the table. Click RD Gateway > Create new certificate.
   3. Enter the certificate name, using the external FQDN of the RD Gateway server (for example, contoso.westus.cloudapp.azure.com) and then enter the password.
   4. Select Store this certificate and then browse to the shared folder you created for certificates in a previous step. (For example,Contoso-Cb1Certificates.)
   5. Enter a file name for the certificate (for example, ContosoRdGwCert), and then click Save.
   6. Select Allow the certificate to be added to the Trusted Root Certificate Authorities certificate store on the destination computers, and then click OK.
   7. Click Apply, and then wait for the certificate to be successfully applied to the RD Gateway server.
   8. Click RD Web Access > Select existing certificate.
   9. Browse to the certificate created for the RD Gateway server (for example, ContosoRdGwCert), and then click Open.
   10. Enter the password for the certificate, select Allow the certificate to be added to the Trusted Root Certificate store on the destination computers, and then click OK.
   11. Click Apply, and then wait for the certificate to be successfully applied to the RD Web Access server.
   12. Repeat substeps 1-11 for the RD Connection Broker - Enable Single Sign On and RD Connection Broker - Publishing services, using the internal FQDN of the RD Connection Broker server for the new certificate's name (for example, Contoso-Cb1.Contoso.com).

7. Export self-signed public certificates and copy them to a client computer. If you are using certificates from a trusted certificate authority, you can skip this step.

   1. Launch certlm.msc.
   2. Expand Personal, and then click Certificates.
   3. In the right-hand pane right-click the RD Connection Broker certificate intended for client authentication, for example Contoso-Cb1.Contoso.com.
   4. Click All Tasks > Export.
   5. Accept the default options in the Certificate Export Wizard accept defaults until you reach the File to Export page.
   6. Browse to the shared folder you created for certificates, for example Contoso-Cb1Certificates.
   7. Enter a File name, for example ContosoCbClientCert, and then click Save.
   8. Click Next, and then click Finish.
   9. Repeat substeps 1-8 for the RD Gateway and Web certificate, (for example contoso.westus.cloudapp.azure.com), giving the exported certificate an appropriate file name, for example ContosoWebGwClientCert.
   10. In File Explorer, navigate to the folder where the certificates are stored, for example Contoso-Cb1Certificates.
   11. Select the two exported client certificates, then right-click them, and click Copy.
   12. Paste the certifcates on the local client computer.

8. Configure the RD Gateway and RD Licensing deployment properties:

   1. In Server Manager, click Remote Desktop Services > Overview > Tasks > Edit Deployment Properties.
   2. Expand RD Gateway and clear the Bypass RD Gateway server for local addresses option.
   3. Expand RD licensing and select Per User
   4. Click OK.

9. Create a session collection. These steps create a basic collection. Check out Create a Remote Desktop Services collection for desktops and apps to run for more information about collections.

   1. In Server Manager, click Remote Desktop Services > Collections > Tasks > Create Session Collection.
   2. Enter a collection Name (for example, ContosoDesktop).
   3. Select an RD Session Host Server (Contoso-Sh1), accept the default user groups (ContosoDomain Users), and enter the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) Path to the user profile disks created above (Contoso-Cb1UserDisks).
   4. Set a Maximum size, and then click Create.

Configure Remote Desktop Services 2016

You've now created a basic Remote Desktop Services infrastructure. If you need to create a highly-available deployment, you can add a connection broker cluster or a second RD Session Host server.

Last updated on February 27th, 2020

This article contains step by step instructions on how to install and configure the Remote Desktop Services on a Windows Server 2016 or 2012. In Windows Server 2016 & 2012 the Terminal Services role has been replaced by the Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) role service and is part of Remote Desktop Services (RDS). A Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) server, provides to remote users the ability to access the applications on the RDS host server and the company resources from anywhere by using an RDP client.

In this tutorial you 'll learn how to setup and configure a Windows Server 2016 or 2012 as a Remote Desktop Session Host (Terminal) server, in order to provide remote desktop sessions, based on the number of Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) installed on the RDSH server.

How to Setup and Configure a Windows Server 2016/2012 as a Remote Desktop Session Host Server (Terminal Server).

Notes:
1. The mentioned steps below, can be applied either on a Domain Controller or in a standalone server 2016/2012.
2. If the Terminal services are installed on a server that will act as a Domain Controller also, then first install the Active Directory Domain Service (AD DS) role service and promote the Server to a Domain Controller, before installing the Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) role service (Terminal Service).
3. Keep in mind that the below configuration does provide access to RemoteApp programs or the RDWeb site, because the Remote Desktop Connection Broker role service will not be installed.

Step 1. Install Remote Desktop Services on Server 2016/2012.

Step 2. Activate the Remote Desktop License Server.

Step 3. Install Licenses on the Remote Desktop License Server.

Step 4. Configure RD Session Host role to use the local Remote Desktop Licensing server & Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode.

Step 5. Add RD Clients (Users) to the Remote Desktop Users Group.

Step 6. Allow the log on through remote desktop Services.

Step 1. Install Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host role services.

1. Open 'Server Manager' and click on Add Roles and Features.

2. At the first screen of 'Add Roles and Features wizard' leave the Role-based or feature-based installation option and click Next.

3. At the next screen, leave the default option 'Select server from the server pool' and click Next.

4. Select the Remote Desktop Services and click Next.

5. Leave the default settings and click Next at Features and Remote Desktop Services screens.
6. At Role Services screen, select the Remote Desktop Licensing role service and then click Add Features.

7. Then select the Remote Desktop Session Host role service and click Add Features again.

8. When done, click Next to continue.

9. Finally click Install to install the Remote Desktop Services: Remote Desktop Licensing and Remote Desktop Session Host.

10. When the installation is completed close the 'Add Roles and Features Wizard' and restart your server.

Step 2. Activate the Remote Desktop License Server.

1. Simultaneously press the Windows + R keys to open run command box.
2. Type licmgr.exe and press Enter to open the RD Licensing Manager *

* Note: Alternately, you can launch the RD Licensing Manager, from Control Panel –> Administrative Tools –> Remote Desktop Services –> Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. Mac ghostview free mac.

3. At the right pane, right click on the server name and select Activate Server.

4. Click Next at the Welcome screen and then click Next again at Connection method options.

5. At 'Company Information' window, fill the required fields and click Next twice to activate your License Server.

6. When the activation is completed, leave checked the 'Start Install Licenses Wizard' checkbox and click Next.

7. Continue to next step.

Step 3. Install Licenses on the Remote Desktop License Server.

1. At 'Welcome to the install licenses wizard', click Next

2. On the License Program page, select the appropriate program through which you purchased your RDS CALs, and then click Next.

3. According the License Program you selected on the previous page, type either the license code or the agreement number provided when you purchased your RDS CALs and then click Next.

4. On the Product Version and License Type page, select the appropriate product version, license type, and the quantity of the RDS CALs based on your RDS CAL purchase agreement, and then click Next.

5. When the RDS CALs installed on the server, click Finish. *

Deploy Remote Desktop Services 2016

TIP: If you cannot activate the RDS Server automatically, then try to activate it using the Web Browser or via Telephone. To do that:

a. Right-click on the Server's name and select Properties.
b. Change the Connection Method to Web Browser or to Telephone.When done, click OK.
c. Finally, right click on the server name, select Activate Server and follow the onscreen instructions to completed the activation.

Step 4. Configure RD Session Host role to use the local Remote Desktop Licensing server & Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode.

1. Open Group Policy Editor. To do that:

1. Simultaneously press the Windows + R keys to open run command box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.

2. In Group Policy Editor navigate to:

• Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsRemote Desktop ServicesRemote Desktop Session Host Licensing

3. At the right pane, double click at Use the specified Remote License Servers.

4. Click Enabled, and then at 'License server to use' field, type the RDS license server name and click OK.

5. Then open the Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode setting.

6. Click Enabled and then specify the licensing mode (Per User or Per Device) for the RDS host server and then click OK again.

7.Close Group Policy Editor.
8. Verify the RD Licensing configuration, by going to: Windows Control Panel –> Administrative Tools –> Remote Desktop Services –> RD Licensing Diagnoser.

Step 5. Add RD Clients (Users) to the Remote Desktop Users Group.

1. Open Server Manager.
2. From Tools menu, select Active Directory Users and Computers. *

* Note: If the RD Session Host Service is not installed on the Domain Controller, use the 'Local Users and Groups' snap-in or the 'Remote' tab in the 'System Properties' on the RDS host server, to add the remote desktop users.

3. Double click at your domain on the left and then select Builtin.
4. Open Remote Desktop Users on the right pane.

5. At Members tab, click Add.

6. Type the name(s) of the users that you want to give Remote access to the RDS Server and click OK.

7. After selecting the remote desktop users, click OK again to close the window.

8. Continue to step-6 below.

Step 6. Allow the log on through remote desktop Services.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor. To do that:

1. Simultaneously press the Windows + R keys to open run command box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.

2. In Group Policy Editor navigate to: Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > User Rights Assignment.

3. At the right Pane: double click at Allow log on through Remote Desktop Services.

4. Click Add User or Group. Super mario party online.

5. Click Object Types, check all the available objects (Users, Groups, & Built-in security principals) and then click OK.

6. Type remote desktop users and then click OK.

7. Finally click OK again and close Group Policy Editor.

8. Now you 're ready to connect to the Remote Desktop Session Host Server 2016/2012 from any Remote desktop client.

That’s it! Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.

We're hiring

Activate Remote Desktop Services 2016

We're looking for part-time or full-time technical writers to join our team! It's about a remote position that qualified tech writers from anywhere in the world can apply. Click here for more details.

Installing Remote Desktop Services On Windows Server 2016

Microsoft Remote Desktop Server 2016