Redundant RDS servers

The Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Windows component allows you to take control of a remote computer or virtual machine over a network connection. (RDS was known as Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 and earlier.) A remote client machine that supports Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) can access the Windows software and the entire desktop of the computer running RDS. This is sometimes known as a thin client.

In a redundant RDS servers model, you activate the primary client licenses in the primary RDS server and activate the failover client licenses (FLB) in the backup RDS server. A copy of these licenses is always synchronized and exists on the backup License Server. When failover occurs and the clients point to the backup License Server, the failover licenses will be available from the backup License Server.

Supervisory Client FLB Licenses are required for the backup RDS Server.

Note: You can use both ReadWrite and ReadOnly RDS licenses in the same License Server.

Advantages

RDS ReadOnly licenses can coexist with ReadWrite Licenses in the same License Server.

The redundancy in this model is provided by redundant RDS servers. prevent overuse of licenses and potential unavailability at failover, there is no separate redundancy of License Servers.

Limitations

Licenses must be deactivated before cloning VMs, otherwise a Grace Period is triggered.