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Remote Desktop Session Host is not supported on Small Business Server 2011 Standard Edition

Article ID: 2466908 - View products that this article applies to.

SUMMARY

When you install the Remote Desktop Session Host role on a computer that is running Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, the role seems to be installed correctly. However, you cannot switch the licensing mode to per device or to per user. Additionally, if you select a licensing mode of per device or of per user during the installation of the role, you may receive the following error message during the configuration of the role:

Attempt to configure Remote Desktop Session Host failed with error code 0x80004005. Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.

MORE INFORMATION

Installing the Remote Desktop Session Host role service on a computer that is running Windows SBS 2011 Standard is not supported and does not work. Even though the role seems to be installed, it is not designed to work in Windows SBS 2011 Standard. The server will allow for only two administrative connections that use remote desktop for administration.

To regain correct functionality of the server, you must remove the Remote Desktop Session Host role from the computer that is running Windows SBS 2011 Standard. To do this, follow these steps:

Open Server Manager, expand Roles, and the select the Remote Desktop Services role.
In the pane on the right side, select Remove Role Services, and then click to clear the Remote Desktop Session Host check box.
Complete the wizard. To do this, click Next, and then click Remove.

If you want to implement the Remote Desktop Session Host service to host multiple-user desktops on the same server, you can use the Small Business Server 2011 Premium add-in or purchase a separate server license.