Licensing mode for the Remote Desktop Session Host is not configured

Despite completing the wizards, and everything looking and installing without issue, you may find on completion of the setup of Remote Desktop Services (on Server 2012 or 2016) that no licences are issued and the RD Licensing Diagnoser complains that “Licensing mode for the Remote Desktop Session Host is not configured”, even though it has been and is…

To correct it, run the following PowerShell commands on the RDS server:

$obj = gwmi -namespace “Root/CIMV2/TerminalServices” Win32_TerminalServiceSetting
$obj. SetSpecifiedLicenseServerList(“server.domain.local”)

Note that you can check what the current setting is, either before or after the change, by running: $obj. GetSpecifiedLicenseServerList()

You then need to run regedit and manually set the licensing mode on the following:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM\Licensing Core\LicensingMode

You need to change the DWORD to 2 for Per Device or 4 for Per User. Reboot the server for changes to take effect.

UPDATE – Apparently you can also resolve the issue by configuring some Group Policy items (but I have not had the opportunity to confirm this works as yet!):
Run the Group Policy MMC (gpedit.msc) [Note, if you centrally manage your Group Policy, you can edit it on your Domain Controller and apply it to the OU where your Remote Desktop Licensing Servers are.]
Navigate to Computer Configuration | Administrative Templates | Windows Components | Remote Desktop Services | Remote Desktop Session Host | Licensing ]
Open “Use the specified Remote Desktop license servers” entry, change it to Enabled and enter your licensing server host name or IP address (or localhost)
Open “Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode” entry and change it to Enabled and set it to Per Device or Per User as required.
Restart the server.