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    Elastic Compute Service:Activate RDS licenses for a Windows Server instance

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    Elastic Compute Service:Activate RDS licenses for a Windows Server instance

    Last Updated:Apr 01, 2026

    Windows Server grants a 120-day grace period after you install Remote Desktop Services (RDS). During this period, install and activate your purchased Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs) on a license server. After the grace period expires, only the default administrator can connect remotely — standard users lose access.

    This guide walks you through activating a license server, installing RDS CALs, configuring the RD Session Host to use the license server, and verifying the result. The examples use Windows Server 2022.

    Prerequisites

    Before you begin, make sure you have:

    • Internet access configured on the ECS instance

    • The license agreement number from your RDS CAL purchase

    Step 1: Activate the RDS license server

    Register the instance with Microsoft to activate it as a license server.

    1. Log on to the ECS instance.

      1. Go to ECS console - Instances. In the top navigation bar, select the target region and resource group.

      2. Go to the details page of the target instance, click Connect, and select Workbench. Set the connection method to Terminal, enter the username and password, and log on to the graphical terminal page.

    2. Right-click the Start icon 开始, then click Run. Enter licmgr and press Enter to open the RD Licensing Manager.

    3. In the RD Licensing Manager, expand All Servers, right-click the server name, and click Activate Server.

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    1. In the Activate Server Wizard, keep the default connection method, Automatic connection. Fill in your Company, then click Next and follow the prompts to complete the activation.

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    Step 2: Install RDS CALs

    Install your purchased licenses on the activated license server.

    1. On the Activate Server Wizard welcome page, click Next.

    The wizard typically opens automatically after server activation. If it does not open, right-click the server name in the RD Licensing Manager and select Install Licenses.
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    1. On the License Program page, select the license program that matches your license type, then click Next.

    This example uses the Enterprise Agreement license program.
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    1. Enter the Agreement number as prompted, then click Next.

    2. On the Product Version and License Type page, configure the following settings.

      • Product version: Select a CAL version compatible with your instance's operating system. A newer CAL version is backward compatible — for example, a Windows Server 2022 CAL works on instances running Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, or earlier.

      • License type: Select the type that matches your environment.

        License type

        Use when

        RDS Per Device CAL

        Each connecting device is fixed and identifiable. Works in standalone server and workgroup environments.

        RDS Per User CAL

        Users connect from multiple devices. Requires Active Directory domain deployment.

        For full details on the two license types, see the Microsoft documentation.

      • Quantity: Enter the number of licenses you purchased. This value sets the maximum number of licenses the server can issue. Enter it accurately to avoid wasting licenses or violating your license agreement.

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    1. Click Next and wait for the installation to complete. The installed license information appears in the RD Licensing Manager.

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    Step 3: Configure the RD Session Host to use the license server

    Use Group Policy to point the RD Session Host service to the local license server.

    1. Right-click the Start icon 开始, then click Run. Enter gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Licensing.

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    1. Double-click Use the specified Remote Desktop license servers. Select Enabled, enter the IP address or hostname of the license server in the License servers to use field, then click OK.

    If the license server and the session host are on the same instance, enter 127.0.0.1.
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    1. Double-click Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode. Select Enabled, choose the licensing mode that matches the license type installed in Step 2, then click OK.

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    1. Right-click the Start icon 开始, then click Run. Enter gpupdate /force and press Enter to apply the Group Policy changes. After the update completes, restart the instance.

    Step 4: Verify the configuration

    1. Reconnect to the instance. Right-click the Start icon 开始, then click Run. Enter servermanager and click OK to open Server Manager.

    2. In Server Manager, click All Servers. Right-click the server name and select RD Licensing Diagnoser.

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    If the diagnoser reports no issues, the configuration is complete.

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    1. Right-click the Start icon 开始, then click Run. Enter licmgr and press Enter to open the RD Licensing Manager. Expand All servers and click the server name. Verify that licenses are being issued correctly.

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