This guide walks you through installing and configuring Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) on a standalone Windows Server—no domain join required. Perfect for labs, sovereign setups, or lightweight deployments.
✅ Step 1: Install RDS Roles via PowerShell
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
Install-WindowsFeature -Name RDS-RD-Server, RDS-Licensing -IncludeManagementTools
Restart-Computer
This installs:
- Remote Desktop Session Host
- Remote Desktop Licensing
✅ Step 2: Create Licensing Registry Key
After reboot, create the missing registry path:
New-Item -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" -Name "Licensing Core" -Force