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Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services Licensing
Posted by Benny Tritsch on January 2, 2006
[Overview] [License Server] [Per Device TS CAL] [Per User TS CAL] [Transition Plan]
TS License Server and Microsoft Clearinghouse
The Terminal Services license server is represented by the Terminal Server Licensing Service installed on a member server or a Domain Controller with Windows Server 2003. After installation, you can find the Terminal Services license server's administration interface under Start | Administrative Tools | Terminal Server Licensing.
Microsoft Clearinghouse is the Microsoft-managed database used to activate license servers and to install, upon request, key packages for the client licenses on license servers. The Clearinghouse stores data on all activated license servers and all key packages issued. In this way, it is easy to track which client licenses are used in an organization that uses terminal servers and to ensure that the organization has purchased enough client licenses. Microsoft Clearinghouse is accessed via Terminal Services licensing.
Upon activation of a Terminal Services license server, Microsoft Clearinghouse issues a digital certificate for a license server. This certificate is used to verify the ownership rights and the identity of the server. A license server with this certificate can conduct transactions with Microsoft and receive TS CALs. There are three ways to activate a license server: automatically over the Internet, manually via a Web browser, or over the telephone. As soon as the license server is activated, it confirms the server's identity and enables it to receive valid full licenses.
After license server activation, key packages for TS-CALs can be installed on the server. These packages allow the server to issue licenses upon request by terminal servers on the network. The corresponding key packages are stored and tracked on the license server. Microsoft Clearinghouse installs key packages for TS-CALs using the Terminal Services licensing procedure. When Microsoft Clearinghouse receives a request to install client licenses, it issues the requested number of key packages to the license server. You can use the same methods to install client licenses as you do to initially activate a license server.
If you want to investigate licensing in more detail, the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit provides you with the Terminal Server License Viewer, Lsview.exe. This tool allows you to find out names and types of license servers in the network. Another useful tool included in the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit is the Terminal Server Client License Test command-line application, Tstcst.exe. It returns information about th TS CAL if executed on a client device.
