Configure a Windows instance to support multiple concurrent remote desktop connections-Elastic Compute Service(ECS)-阿里云帮助中心

Install Remote Desktop Services (RDS) on a Windows ECS instance to allow more than two concurrent RDP sessions, using Windows Server 2016 as an example.

Important

After you install RDS, you receive a 120-day licensing grace period during which unlimited concurrent RDP sessions are allowed. After the grace period, you must configure a license server and install RDS client access licenses (CALs). RDS CALs are automatically issued to users or devices to authorize connections. Without a license server and valid CALs, users and devices cannot connect to the instance.

Install RDS

Connect to the Windows ECS instance. See Choose a connection method.
In the lower-left corner of the Windows desktop, right-click the icon and select Run. Enter servermanager and click OK.
On the Dashboard page, click Add roles and features.
On the Before you begin page, click Next.
On the Select installation type page, keep the default settings and click Next. On the Select destination server page, keep the default settings and click Next.
On the Select server roles page, select Remote Desktop Services and click Next.
On the Select features page, keep the default settings and click Next. On the Remote Desktop Services page, click Next.
On the Select role services page, select Remote Desktop Session Host and Remote Desktop Licensing. In the dialog box, click Add Features, then click Next.
On the Confirm installation selections page, select Restart the destination server automatically if required, and then click Install.

Add users to the Remote Desktop Users group

New users must be added to the Remote Desktop Users group before they can connect to the instance via RDP.

Create a user.
1. Connect to the Windows ECS instance. See Choose a connection method.
2. In the lower-left corner of the Windows desktop, right-click the icon and select Run. Enter lusrmgr.msc and click OK.
3. In Local Users and Groups Manager, right-click the Users folder in the left-side navigation pane, and then click New User... in the context menu.
4. Enter the user information and click Create.
Add the user to the Remote Desktop Users group.
1. In Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr), select the Groups folder in the left-side navigation pane, double-click Remote Desktop Users to open its properties dialog box, and click Add....
2. In the Select Users dialog box, click Advanced.
3. Click Find Now, and select the target user (for example, user1) in the search results.
4. Confirm the user and click OK.

Configure licensing after the grace period

After the 120-day grace period, you must set up a license server and install RDS CALs. RDS CALs are automatically issued to users or devices to authorize RDP connections. Without a configured license server and valid RDS CALs, users and devices cannot connect to the instance. See Request and activate RDS CAL licenses.