Activate a Terminal Services License Server
Applies To: Windows Server 2008
A license server must be activated to certify the license server and allow the license server to issue 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.
There are three methods by which you can activate your license server:
Activate a Terminal Services License Server by Using a Web Browser
Activate a Terminal Services License Server by Using the Telephone
When you activate the license server, Microsoft provides the server with a limited-use digital certificate that validates server ownership and identity. Microsoft uses an X.509 industry standard certificate for this purpose. By using this certificate, a license server can make subsequent transactions with Microsoft.
If a license server is not activated, the license server can only issue temporary TS Per Device CALs, which are valid for 90 days, or TS Per User CALs.