I seem to be stuck in the twilight zone.
I have a new install of windows server 2003 std r2 sp2. I have installed terminal service licensing. I have set licensing to be per-user. I have installed a 5 user CAL pack. I don't think the CALs are being used.
In Terminal Server Licensing I have 2 lines that say:
Temporary Licenses for Windows server 2003 - Terminal Server Per Device CAL Token, Type=Temporary, Total=-, Available=-, Issued=1
Windows Server 2003 - Terminal Server Per User CAL Token, Volume License, Total=5, Available=5, Issued=Not Applicable
The lsreport says the temporary license is issued to one of my laptops. Although I don't know why because I never had any Device CAL setup.
And my users are all logged in using RDP with no problems or messages.
I know the clock is probably ticking, but I can't figure out what the clock is set to.
I don't want my users to suddenly be unable to access the server whenever "the expiration date nears".
I expected to be able to look somewhere and see a counter go up and down as my users log in and out.
Isn't this a problem for anyone running TS?
How will I ever know when I need to add more CALs?
How do I know if my users are using temporary licenses?
I'm in the first 30 days right now, but I think I need to solve this problem sooner rather than later.
Why is this so confusing and can anyone translate the Microsoft plan into plain English from a practical point of view?
I have to admit that the articles I have found on this site have really helped but I'm getting cross-eyed from reading so much design documentation.
We tend to pretty much get something working and then never touch it for years.
Thank you very much for whatever help you can provide.
Ken Handzik kmh@excaliburinc.com
It's hard to figure out how the licenses are getting used, especially with Per User under 2003. Currently, 2003 doesn't actually track the license usage, it merely checks to see if you have some Per User licenses. So, legally you HAVE to buy enough, but technically you don't. That's supposed to change under 2008.
Why is it called "Common Sense"? It doesn't seem all that common!
Dan is right. With 2003 Per User CALs are not actually handed out by the license server, they just have to be there. As long as your servers are set to Per User and you have an activated License Server, your clients will be able to connect.
Hello Ken,
This normal behaviour of the Terminal Server license service. The first a client connects he always get a temporary license, this license has a grace period of 120 days (I think, :)).
When this grace period had ended your client will try to get a "real" license.
Take a look at the following link :
http://www.msterminalservices.org/articles/Terminal-Services-CAL-Allocation-Process-Part1.html
Regards,
Timco Hazelaar
All Computers wait at the same speed !SBC Bloghttp://www.virtualdutch.com
Hello
I thought the normal mechanism was for a temporary license to only be used on the first connection and that a subsequent connection would replace the temporary with a real license.
I don't see any evidence anywhere of that either.
My users have been repeatably connecting several times a day for 2 or 3 weeks now.
As I said I don't want to find out in 120 days (or 100 as the case is now) that I have a problem.
Where can I see any activity or counting or logging or something about what the license server is doing?
Thanks
Ken
There are two things going on here. First, as was mentioned earlier, the client will grab a temporary license on the first connection (which expires after 90 days). The next time that same client connects, they will grab a "real" license. Now, having said that, you must match your TS licenses with the way your TS Servers expect to hand out the licenses. I'm guessing you currently have your TS server set to use "Per Device" licenses, which is why those are the only licenses being touched at the moment. You have to flip each TS Server to use "Per User" licensing instead. Then it should start using the User CALs you have. Personally, I HATE Per Device licenses. As soon as users connect from WHEREVER, they steal a license. What a pain. They eventually do expire, but you run the risk of running out in the mean time. That's why I went Per User.
Yes, that was the third thing listed in my original post.
It has always been set to Per-User licensing. I set that mode immediately before installing my 5 CALs.
Where can I find out what the licensing server is doing at each individual log in and log out?