Bought two Remote Desktop CAL for external vendor RDP to two server and trying to understand what needs to be done
Hello Everyone,
This is going to sound like a dumb question and I feel stupid even asking it, but am sufficiently confused now that I have no choice. LOL!
We have 2 new servers that the vendor team needs to work on to install products etc.
I was asked to purchase two Remote Desktop CALS so they can connect and did so through a reseller.
See item below
I then started looking for a way to integrate these so they can be used. Eventually I read about needing an RDS server and that is when the confusion began. We recently updated our AD with two new 2016 DC and bought the 400+ User CALS required. However, I never came upon anything that stated that I needed to install licensing servers, etc. nor did any vendor tech helping us out ever mention it and we do not have one installed. So is the RDS server merely for the Remote Desktop and is it a feature installed on the two servers the vendor needs access to, or am I missing a serious piece of the AD puzzle that will eventually cripple us?
Thanks in advance for all insights.
This is going to sound like a dumb question and I feel stupid even asking it, but am sufficiently confused now that I have no choice. LOL!
We have 2 new servers that the vendor team needs to work on to install products etc.
I was asked to purchase two Remote Desktop CALS so they can connect and did so through a reseller.
See item below
I then started looking for a way to integrate these so they can be used. Eventually I read about needing an RDS server and that is when the confusion began. We recently updated our AD with two new 2016 DC and bought the 400+ User CALS required. However, I never came upon anything that stated that I needed to install licensing servers, etc. nor did any vendor tech helping us out ever mention it and we do not have one installed. So is the RDS server merely for the Remote Desktop and is it a feature installed on the two servers the vendor needs access to, or am I missing a serious piece of the AD puzzle that will eventually cripple us? Thanks in advance for all insights.
Last Comment
David Johnson, CD
The barest minimum for a RDS deployment is a session host AND a license server. If you have 2 or more session servers then you can use a connection broker either for different rds groups or load balancing . For users without a current remote desktop connection client then you need a local web server and for external users it is best to have a remote desktop gateway server. A licensing server is mandatory unless you are using the 2 administrative accounts that come with each server.
ASKER
Sorry never did this... any chance you might point to a tech article that outlines steps... In our scenario the two servers (2012r2) are internal to us (inside FW) and the vendor is connecting via VPN into our network first and then RDP to server. The intent is to allow more than one vendor tech to work on the server through RDP. Any extra insights greatly appreciated.
those 400+ User CALS are they Windows Server CALS? Not Windows RDP CAL's?
As long as the vendor is using an administrator account
mstsc /admin servername then 2 sessions are available
As long as the vendor is using an administrator account
mstsc /admin servername then 2 sessions are available
ASKER
they are windows cals for server access not RDP
local admin (on server they need to get to) or domain admin account for 2 sessions?
So if local admin is true then we did not have to buy these two RDP licenses and do not need an RDS server?
local admin (on server they need to get to) or domain admin account for 2 sessions?
So if local admin is true then we did not have to buy these two RDP licenses and do not need an RDS server?
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ASKER
LOL... thx...
ASKER
Assuming that I do need to setup servers or add roles/features for it on existing servers.. as per https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license ...
"When a device connects to an RD Session Host server, the RD Session Host server determines if an RDS CAL is needed. The RD Session Host server then requests an RDS CAL from the Remote Desktop license server. If an appropriate RDS CAL is available from a license server, the RDS CAL is issued to the client, and the client is able to connect to the RD Session Host server and from there to the desktop or apps they're trying to use."
So I need a RD session Host Server (or is that the server that the vendor is trying to connect to) and a Remote Desktop License Server... and then install CAL (and activate) on Remote Desktop License Server??
"When a device connects to an RD Session Host server, the RD Session Host server determines if an RDS CAL is needed. The RD Session Host server then requests an RDS CAL from the Remote Desktop license server. If an appropriate RDS CAL is available from a license server, the RDS CAL is issued to the client, and the client is able to connect to the RD Session Host server and from there to the desktop or apps they're trying to use."
So I need a RD session Host Server (or is that the server that the vendor is trying to connect to) and a Remote Desktop License Server... and then install CAL (and activate) on Remote Desktop License Server??
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ASKER
perfect thanks
ASKER
Apparently I am not smart enough to understand MS KB articles as they make no sense... Can someone please provide a link with some basic steps... I am not trying to setup VDI or anything fancy. Just need to be able to have several users RDP to the server at the same time, i.e. the old terminal services. I am getting confused and can't get my mind around the dozens of varying articles that may be addressing different aspects of this option. Some articles state that I need to install this under server manager role-based or feature-based and others state I need to install this through server manager via remote desktop services installation??? Some recommend quick start and others standard deployment.
So assuming that I add the session host and license server roles/features... is the next step to activate and then add the 2 CALS and that's it... is it that simple... lol
So assuming that I add the session host and license server roles/features... is the next step to activate and then add the 2 CALS and that's it... is it that simple... lol
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