# Plan the RD Connection Broker outage before upgrading RDS roles

> In what order should RDS roles be upgraded, and where is an outage expected?

- Canonical URL: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-20260908-159-plan-the-rd-connection-broker-outage-before-upgrading-rds-roles/
- Publisher: Detection Systems & Engineering (DSE Security)
- Author: DSE Security Editorial Team
- Published: 2026-09-08T18:14:32+00:00
- Modified: 2026-09-08T18:26:31+00:00
- Last reviewed by DSE: 2026-09-08
- Resource type: Guide
- DSE priority: Information
- Topics: IT, Networks & Infrastructure
- Reading time: 1 minutes

## What you need to know

In what order should RDS roles be upgraded, and where is an outage expected?

## Potentially affected

Administrators planning Windows Server upgrades for an RDS deployment.

## DSE recommendation

Build a role-by-role sequence with an explicit broker outage window.

## Article

## Source facts

Microsoft upgrades RD Connection Broker first. In an active/active deployment, it removes all but one broker, upgrades that broker in place, upgrades the others offline, and adds them back. The deployment is unavailable during the broker upgrade. All brokers must be upgraded; mixed broker versions are unsupported. License servers should be upgraded before Session Host servers. [Microsoft documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/upgrade-to-rds).

## Applicability

Inventory every RDS role, its release, redundancy configuration, and allowed upgrade path. Review the source’s role-specific limitations and known upgrade issues before scheduling the work.

## DSE recommendation

Build a role-by-role sequence with an explicit broker outage window. Have the RDS owner agree on user communication, session handling, recovery checkpoints, and the conditions for advancing to the next role. Preserve the deployment inventory and required recovery material before the first upgrade.

## Verification

After the broker stage, confirm that all brokers run the intended release and test the required session workflows. Repeat appropriate checks after the licensing and Session Host stages. Record failures and mixed-version exceptions before declaring the overall deployment upgraded.

## Official references

[Microsoft Learn: Upgrade Remote Desktop Services deployments](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/upgrade-to-rds). Source reviewed September 8, 2026.

## Primary reference

- Name: Upgrade Remote Desktop Services deployments
- Authority: Microsoft Learn
- URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/upgrade-to-rds
- Source publication date: Not stated by the source

## Citation and use

Preferred citation: “Plan the RD Connection Broker outage before upgrading RDS roles,” DSE Security, https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-20260908-159-plan-the-rd-connection-broker-outage-before-upgrading-rds-roles/
Publishing principles: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/
Usage and citation policy: https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/
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