Configure Terminal Services Licensing

  • Article

Updated: December 10, 2009

Applies To: Windows SBS 2008

Terminal Services Licensing (TS Licensing) manages the Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs) that are required for each device or user to connect to a terminal server. You use TS Licensing to install, issue, and track the availability of TS CALs on a Terminal Services license server. To use Terminal Services, you must have at least one license server deployed in your environment. In a Windows SBS environment, you can install only one TS Licensing role service on the same server on which the Terminal Server role service is installed.

Install the Terminal Server Licensing role service

To install the Terminal Server Licensing role service

  1. Open Server Manager. To do this, click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.

  2. In the User Account Control window, click Continue.

  3. In the console pane, click Roles, and then click Terminal Services.

  4. In the console pane, in Role Services, click Add Role Services. The Add Role Services Wizard begins.

  5. On the Select Role Services page, select the TS Licensing check box.

  6. On the Configure Discovery Scope for TS Licensing page, specify the discovery scope for TS Licensing. To do this, click This domain, and then click Next.

  7. On the Confirm Installation Selections page, confirm that you want to install the TS Licensing role service, and then click Install.

  8. On the Installation Results page, confirm that the TS Licensing role service is successfully installed, and then click Close.

Activate the license server

The Terminal Services license server must be activated in order to certify the server and to allow the license server to issue permanent Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs). You can activate a license server by using the Activate Server Wizard in the TS Licensing Manager tool. If a license server is not activated, the license server can issue only temporary TS Per Device CALs, which are valid for 90 days, or temporary TS Per User CALs.

Note

There are other ways that you can activate a Terminal Services licensing server. For more information, see “Activating a Terminal Services License Server” at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=131675).

Important

To activate the license server, you must be a member of the local Administrators group or equivalent on the license server.

To activate the license server

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, click Terminal Services, and then, in Advanced Tools, click TS Licensing Manager.

  2. Right-click the license server that you want to activate, and then click Activate Server. The Activate Server Wizard opens.

  3. Click Next.

  4. On the Connection Method page, in the Connection Method list, click Automatic connection (recommended), and then click Next.

  5. Optional: Specify any other information that you want, such as e-mail and company addresses.

  6. Click Next. The license server is activated.

  7. On the Completing the Activate Server Wizard page, do one of the following:

    • To install TS CALs on you license server, ensure that the Start Install Licenses Wizard now check box is selected, click Next, and then follow the instructions.

    • To install TS CALs later, clear the Start Install Licenses Wizard now check box, and then click Finish.

Add client licenses to the license server

After you activate your Terminal Services license server, you can install TS CALs on it. You need a license code to install the CALs. A license code is provided when you purchase your TS CALs. For more information, see “Purchase client access licenses” at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=81077).

Note

There are other ways that you can install TS CALs. For more information, see “Installing Terminal Services Client Access Licenses” at the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=131680).

Important

To add client licenses to the license server, you must be a member of the local Administrators group or equivalent on the license server.

To add client licenses to the license server

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, click Terminal Services, and then click TS Licensing Manager.

  2. Right-click the license server on which you want to install TS CALs, and then click Properties.

  3. On the Connection Method tab, verify that the connection method for the Terminal Services license server is set to Automatic connection (recommended), and then click OK.

  4. In the console tree, right-click the Terminal Services license server on which you want to install the TS CALs, click Install Licenses to open the Install Licenses Wizard, and then click Next.

  5. On the License Program page, select the program through which you purchased your TS CALs, and then click Next.

    The license program that you select determines what information you need to provide on the next page. In most cases, this includes either a license code or an agreement number. For more information, see the documentation provided when you purchased your TS CALs.

  6. Enter the license program information, and then click Next.

  7. On the Product Version and License Type page, select the appropriate product version, license type, and quantity of TS CALs for your environment, based on your TS CAL purchase agreement, and then click Next. The TS CALs are automatically installed onto the license server.

  8. On the Completing the Install Licenses Wizard page, click Finish.