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The Remote Desktop License Feature in the MAP Toolkit
The Remote Desktop Services (RDS) product, formerly known as Terminal Services, has provided a reporting solution for device and user client access dating back to the Windows 2000 timeframe. Since MAP has emerged as the standard tool used for SAM and license renewal engagements, a growing number of requests have been made by MAP users over the past several years for the addition of RDS Usage Tracking to MAP.
At long last, the wait is over. Starting in the MAP Toolkit 9.0 release, MAP will include a report on the data it obtains from the Remote Desktop License Server. The addition of this feature further expands MAP’s capabilities and usefulness as a central point for gathering data.
Getting the Data
For this feature, a new option has been added to the list of Inventory Scenarios in the Inventory Wizard, so you will want to choose both:
- Windows computers
- Client Access Tracking for Remote Desktop Services
MAP will conduct a general inventory of the environment and for any RD License servers that are discovered, MAP will use WMI and PowerShell queries to obtain the information needed for the reports. For details on how to prepare your environment for a successful WMI and PowerShell connection, see these TechNet Wiki articles:
Limitations
To make this feature as useful as possible, we included versions of Windows Server as far back as we could; however, some data didn’t exist prior to a particular version. As such, this feature does not support collecting data on versions prior to Windows Server 2008 because many of the WMI classes that MAP needs were not introduced until that version of Windows Server, and some were introduced even later.
Some User CAL data was only made available via WMI starting in Windows Server 2012. The following data will be missing from the report or not included in the counts for any RD License Servers running on Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2:
- Count of issued User licenses will not include licenses issued from servers running Windows Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2
- Count of available User licenses will not include licenses issued from servers running Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2
- Issue date for User CALs
- Expiration date for User CALs (available starting with Server 2008 R2)
- KeyPack ID for KeyPacks containing User CALs
- License Status of KeyPacks containing User CALs
The Report
Here is a brief explanation of the report which contains 5 worksheets:
- Overview – This worksheet reports the total number of RD License Servers discovered as well as the total number of User or Device CALs installed, issued, and available.
- RD License Server Summary – Similar to the Overview worksheet, this worksheet displays summary information, but on a server by server basis.
- RD License Key Pack – This is a list of all the Key Packs installed on the discovered servers.
- User CAL Details – Detailed list of the users that have a CAL issued to them, including the OS version of the issued CAL and the server that issued the CAL.
- Device CAL Details – Detailed list of the devices that have a CAL issued to them, including the OS version of the issued CAL and the server that issued the CAL.
Announcing the MAP Toolkit 9.0!
We are pleased to announce the availability of version 9.0 of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit. This release of the MAP Toolkit helps increase the agility and cost effectiveness of deploying the latest Microsoft technologies. It also enhances usage tracking to include accounting for Remote Desktop Services as well as Server and Cloud Enrollment licensed deployments. MAP 9.0 additionally helps organizations assess their environment for Office 2013 and Office 365, track usage of Windows Server 2012, Lync Server 2013, SharePoint Server 2013, Exchange Server 2013, System Center Configuration Manager 2012, and SQL Server 2012. The Windows Azure assessment report has also been updated to include the latest Azure sizing.
New Server and Cloud Enrollment scenario helps to simplify adoption
Server and Cloud Enrollment (SCE) is a new offering under the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement that enables subscribers to standardize broadly on one or more Microsoft Server and Cloud technologies. The MAP Toolkit 9.0 features an assessment scenario to identify and inventory SCE supported products within an enterprise and help streamline enrollment.
New Remote Desktop Services Licensing Usage Tracking scenario creates a single view for enterprise wide licensing
With an increase in enterprises deploying Remote Desktop Services (RDS) across wider channels, RDS license management has become a focus point for organizations. With the new RDS Licensing scenario, the MAP Toolkit rolls up license information enterprise-wide into a single report, providing a simple alternative for assessing your RDS licensing position.
Support for software inventory via Software ID tags now available
As part of the Microsoft effort to support ISO 19770-2, the MAP Toolkit now supports inventory of Microsoft products by Software ID (SWID) tag. SWID enhanced reports will provide greater accuracy and assist large, complex environments to better manage their software compliance efforts by simplifying the software identification process and lowering the cost of managing software assets.
Improved Usage Tracking data collection for SQL Server Usage Tracking scenario
As part of our ongoing improvement initiatives, Usage Tracking for SQL Server 2012 has been enhanced to use User Access Logging (UAL). UAL is a standard protocol in Windows Server 2012 that collects User Access information in near real time and stores the information in a local database, eliminating the need for log parsing to perform Usage Tracking assessments. UAL vastly improves the speed and helps to eliminate long lead times for environment preparation associated with running Usage Tracking assessments.
Download the MAP Toolkit 9.0 now!
You asked, We listened
As part of the MAP team’s ongoing improvement initiatives, we’ve reviewed a number of feedback submissions and have implemented changes based on the MAP community’s suggestions. We’d love to hear more. Please send comments and suggestions to mapfdbk@microsoft.com.