Troubleshooting Remote Desktop Licensing Issues

Updated: March 7, 2012

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

To help you get started with Remote Desktop Licensing (RD Licensing) or Terminal Services Licensing (TS Licensing), and to troubleshoot any problems you may be having, see the following topics in this section:

• Install and issue RDS CALs or TS CALs

• Discover license servers

• Understand the licensing grace period

• Migrate client access licenses

• Create CAL reports

• Diagnose licensing issues

• Recover from disasters

General resources

Windows Server 2008 R2

• Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Suites and Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

• Deploying Remote Desktop Licensing Step-by-Step Guide

• Remote Desktop Licensing Online Help

• Remote Desktop Licensing Events and Errors

• Remote Desktop Services Product Team Blog

• Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services Forum

• Remote Desktop Licensing Group Policy Settings Explained

• Configuring Remote Desktop Licensing Settings on a Remote Desktop Virtualization Host Server (introduces the Windows PowerShell cmdlets for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1)

Windows Server 2008

• Terminal Services Licensing Step-by-Step Guide

• Terminal Services Licensing Online Help

• Terminal Services Licensing Events

• Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services Forum

• Brian Madden Forum video about TS Licensing in Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2003

• Checklist: Configure Terminal Server Licensing

• Terminal Server Licensing Online Help

• Troubleshooting Terminal Server Licensing

• Troubleshooting Remote Desktop Licensing Error Messages

Scripts related to RD Licensing/TS Licensing

• TechNet Script Center Repository: RD Licensing

Top KB articles

Windows Server 2008 R2

• Recommended Updates for Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008 R2

• License Diagnosis tool returns error "License server <computer name> cannot issue RDS CALs to the Remote Desktop Session Host server because the License server security group Group Policy setting is enabled."

• Terminal Server License Server/Remote Desktop License Server Only Issuing Temporary Licenses and Event ID 17 Logged

Windows Server 2008

• Event 4106 generated by a Windows Server 2008-based Terminal Services license server may report incorrect number of issued Per User licenses (hotfix)

• Recommended Updates for Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008

• License Diagnosis tool returns error "License server <computer name> cannot issue RDS CALs to the Remote Desktop Session Host server because the License server security group Group Policy setting is enabled."

• Terminal Server License Server/Remote Desktop License Server Only Issuing Temporary Licenses and Event ID 17 Logged

Windows Server 2003

• Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server licensing issues and requirements for deployment

• A Windows Server 2003-based TS Licensing server does not renew new versions of TS Per Device CALs or RDS Per Device CALs when the CALs expire (hotfix)

• Terminal Server license server may not issue Per Device CALs and Event ID1004 is generated

• Terminal Server License Server/Remote Desktop License Server Only Issuing Temporary Licenses and Event ID 17 Logged