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FAQ: Terminal Server Licensing

Written on Mar 08 2004
Filed under: , ,
13,596 views, 71 comments

by Brian Madden

A lot of people have emailed me questions about different things, so I figured that I'd start answering them via the web instead of one-by-one via email.

Q: Can a Windows 2000 license server pass out licenses to a Windows 2003 Terminal Server?
A: No. Windows 2003 Terminal Servers must get licenses from a license service running on a Windows 2003 server. However, Windows 2003 license servers can also pass out licenses to Windows 2000 Terminal Servers.

Q: Can I install the Windows 2003 Terminal Server licensing service on a Terminal Server?
A: Yes. In fact, many people do this in smaller environments, especially if the domain is Windows 2000-based and they don't want to upgrade any other servers to Windows 2003.

Do you have a question about Terminal Server licensing that's not listed here? If you've read the stuff on my site and you still can't find the anser, send me your question and I'll post the answer here.

Comments

Guest wrote TS CAL License installation
on 12-12-2004 1:21 PM
This message was originally posted by Ravikiran on March 29, 2004
I have installed a TS CAL 50 copies( Microsoft open License). License server activation and license key installtions completed successfully. But when I connect any thin client, the server issues the Licenses to the clients and it shows an expiry date between 50 to 90 days to every client.But when I connect a winxp licensed system to the server,the server issues a permanant built in license to that system which won't be having any expiry date . I tried activating and installing licenses several times .I have reinstalled the windows 2000 server OS(service pack 4) and reset the thin clients to actory settings and tried to connect the server .But the same problem exists. How I can solve this problem ?
Guest wrote Answer to TS CAL License Installation Question
on 12-12-2004 1:21 PM
This message was originally posted by Brian Madden on March 29, 2004
Hi Ravikiran. From your description, it sounds like everything is functioning as it's supposed to. The Windows XP clients use their built-in licenses, and other platforms get the random duration licenses.
Guest wrote TS CAL License installation
on 12-12-2004 1:21 PM
This message was originally posted by Ravikiran on March 30, 2004
But the Microsoft Open License is purchased one(Not Temparory). Will it show any duration period ? Or expiry date should not be there like Win XP clients?
Guest wrote TS CAL License installation
on 12-12-2004 1:21 PM
This message was originally posted by Ravikiran on April 7, 2004
Hi Brian , I am not able to identify that the problem with TS CAL or Thin Clients . Is there any chances of Thin Client problem ? Because the win Xp clients won't be having any expiry date . Only Thin clients will have different expiry dates for the Installed License. And there is no chance of server OS problem ,because I have formatted and reinstalled the OS with latest service pack .still it is not working.And if I change the server date to the expiry date and login from any client ,the server extends the expiry date for another 52 to 89 days for that particular client.Is it the right way for issuing licenses for a Microsoft open License purchased ?
Please clarify my doubts. I am awaiting.
Guest wrote 52-89 days is by design
on 12-12-2004 1:21 PM
This message was originally posted by Brian Madden on April 8, 2004
Hi Ravikan. You're right. All licenses (even full ones) are only issued for 52-89 days, and then renewed. This is so that a broken client device doesn't "steal" a license forever. Check out our white paper on licensing for more information.
Guest wrote Re 52-89 day license issue by design
on 12-12-2004 1:22 PM
This message was originally posted by Neil Fowler on May 27, 2004
I have recently installed a Win2003 Server running Terminal Services with 6 Device CALs installed on the Licensing Server. I need to release the CALs which have been issued to devices as they will be used by a new set of workstations. At present these are not due to expire until mid July. Is there any way a can release them manually or change the expiry date ?

Thanks

Neil
Guest wrote Re 52-89 day license issue by design
on 12-12-2004 1:29 PM
This message was originally posted by an anonymous visitor on July 4, 2004
What you can do is uninstall the terminal server licensing server, (using Add/Remove Programs >> Windows Components) and then re-install it. Then ring up Microsoft clearing house and re-install the licenses.
Guest wrote Grace Period - 2003 Terminal Server
on 12-12-2004 1:30 PM
This message was originally posted by Bryan Fister on July 22, 2004
Does the grace period on a 2003 Terminal Server become null and void if it sees a 2000 License Server?
Guest wrote Has Built-in TS License Behaviour of XP changed with SP2
on 12-12-2004 1:31 PM
This message was originally posted by Kenny on August 19, 2004
I have observed the folowing recent behaviour when connecting to a Windows 2000 TS \ Windows 2003 License Server.
XP Service Pack 2 cannot issue a client license (understandable as we have none available)
Uninstall SP2 and XP Service Pack 1 uses the Built-in client license (i.e. correct behaviour)
I have struggled to find documentation of such a change, has XP SP2 ceased to use a built-in TS client license?
Guest wrote Extra User Logs One OFF???
on 12-12-2004 1:50 PM
This message was originally posted by Jimbo on October 5, 2004
Windows 2000 Server hosting Citrix Metaframe XP.

<throws down gauntlet>
What is supposed to happen when the license count is reached and another User tries to log on?

On ours it logs off an existing User!!!!!!!!! SURELY this must be a BUG!?!?!?

Also, does this behavior change as a result of Windows Updates or Citrix Hotfixes & Feature Releases?

More to the point, how can I make it behave correctly, i.e. do NOT log off a already-validated user, I don't CARE what Microsoft was smoking!!
</gauntlet>

I actually haven't seen this yet, but every Citrix User in this org has confirmed having been kicked at one time or another. <shakes head in stunned disbelief>
Guest wrote Why So S l o o o w ?
on 12-12-2004 1:50 PM
This message was originally posted by Harried Contractor on October 5, 2004
Win2k + Citrix MF XP. Sporadic, randomly disorganized patches/fixes/updates/etc./etc.

2-User LAN to DSL to Internet to DSL to Win2k/Citrix on 31 user LAN. 100Mb/s all, except, of course, for the DSLs, which run 200+ kb/s on 2Wire.com's test.

1- Users get disconnected repeatedly for no apparent reason.
2- Users can press a key, count "one one-thousand two one-thousand..." up to as much as five one-thousand before the result appears on the screen. When they reported it, my inside (100Mb) LAN connection was smokin', but the Console response was brutally slow.

Question: Just another Citrix, not-yet-ready-for-prime-time, wait-for-a-hotfix bug, or did the vendor (eGroup, CHS) just screw us? (Vendor has nothing but excuses since Day One, but we need to get productive!)
Guest wrote Citrix on Windows 2003
on 12-12-2004 1:52 PM
This message was originally posted by Janakan Rajendran on October 20, 2004
Hi Jimbo, I have the same trouble, but we have Citrix MF on W2K3 server...did u find any solution? would appreciate if u share that with me.

Regards
Guest wrote Citrix and terminal license
on 12-12-2004 1:57 PM
This message was originally posted by Dominic on December 1, 2004
I am just new to Citrix environment, do you need to have Terminal Server Licences server running to run Citrix thin clients? And if so, does the TS CALS get renewed by the LIcense server after its expiry?
Guest wrote Not Issuing licenses
on 12-12-2004 1:57 PM
This message was originally posted by Darkow on December 6, 2004
We have a Win 2003 Terminal Server with a Win 2000 domain controller. The License server is installed on the 2003, the licenses have been activated and set as per user. When people connect, however, no licenses are issued. Is this due to temp licenses still in effect, or is there a way to force the licenses to be used?
Guest wrote Please do not post tech support questions here
on 12-12-2004 1:57 PM
This message was originally posted by Brian Madden on December 6, 2004
Use the forum instead. http://forum.brianmadden.com
Guest wrote RE: Why So S l o o o w ?
on 12-22-2004 2:42 PM
We have a similar issue with fast network on both ends. Does any one have a recommendation on monitoring tools that might help troubleshoot TS slowness?
Guest wrote RE: Why So S l o o o w ?
on 12-27-2004 9:37 AM
Sounds familiar.

Our TS runs smoothly with 20 Users, but access to the file server (2xGbit) ist awfully slow. File operations from the TS to every other PC in the network is ok, from every PC to the TS or the File Server, too, access from File Server to TS is a mere blink of the eye, but you die while just opening or saving a 500k excel-sheet from a Terminal-Session.
We are now crawling around this problem by transferring the active data of the terminal users directly on the TS's HDD, but this is not a solution.

Might it be, that the file server is "over-roled"? It's configured for file-server, DC, app-server (IIS), print server and terminal server (remote adminstration).
Martin Persson wrote RE: Why So S l o o o w ?
on 12-27-2004 2:17 PM
Have you checked the settings of link speed in the switch/es and on the NIC:s??
Some of these settings are maybe in conflict.
Guest wrote TS 2000 and Win2000 Pro: Move TSLS to Win2k3 - new CALs?
on 01-05-2005 10:26 AM
Hi there,

I need help regarding the following question: A network with 2000 only (servers and workstations: no SA, no WinXP) is moving to Windows 2003. The Windows 2000 Terminal Servers will carry on serving Windows 2000 Professional machines. ONLY the Terminal Server Licensing Sever should move to a Windows 2003 Server.
Do we need new CAL's? Can one activate the Windows 2000 TS CALs on the new server? Any link or so for that?

Thanks for your help!
Martin Persson wrote RE: TS 2000 and Win2000 Pro: Move TSLS to Win2k3 - new CALs?
on 01-05-2005 3:47 PM
You can choose to activate 2000 TS licensing on the Windows 2003 Server. It's an option when you activate your TS Licensing Server. No new licenses is necessary if still running w2k terminal servers.
Guest wrote transfering Terminal server license server 2003
on 01-31-2005 5:00 AM
i ve two locations connected through ISDN, i have installed the terminal services licenses on the remote location, but i am not able to access it when that server goes down. so i wanna shift that license server to my local server. can i do that, urgent reply will be appriciated.thanks!

Guest wrote exchange server 2003
on 01-31-2005 5:04 AM
have three locations called A(a.t.com),B(b.t.com),C(c.t.com) and i have exchange server2003 installed on my DC and DC(T.com) is in the same subnet as domain A ,

A is connected to B through ISDN and to C through DialUP(demand dial). i am able to send emails from A to B and C, but A is not routing emails between C and B i.e am not able to send emails from C to B. all the connectors and default and no routing group is present. all configuration is default.