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Using a Windows 2003 server as a license server

Christa Anderson EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Christa Anderson

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QUESTION POSED ON: 20 September 2005

In our current network configuration, we have a Windows 2000 Server that was our PDC. We have demoted this box to a member server but are still using it as a terminal server. Since we demoted it, the TS licensing was removed. Now users are having issues connecting to it. We have a new domain controller running 2003 and we are hoping to use this new server as our TS license server for the 2000 box only.

Are there any issues that will arise with using our new Windows 2003 Server as our only license server? Are these Terminal Services Client Access Licenses (TS Cals) transferable to a different license server if we no longer use the old server as a license server?


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You're not very specific about what issues the users are having in connecting to the terminal server—for everyone reading, the more specific you can be the easier it is to diagnose the problem, thanks!—but I'm assuming that they can't log in. From your description you have taken down the license server but not yet reinstated it fully with the license packs installed.

The licenses are transferable, but you can't do it yourself because the MS Clearinghouse ties those licenses to the license server you originally installed them on. Make sure the new license server is activated, then get your volume license agreement numbers or license pack codes. Then call the Microsoft Clearing House to get new CALs (client access licenses) issued to you. Once you've done that, you can install them on your new license server. You can find step-by-step instructions and phone numbers here at Microsoft's website.

As for particular issues with locating a Win2K3 license server, there aren't any that should be impacting you while the license server is located on a domain controller, so as long as the terminal server and license server are in the same site. A Windows Server 2003 license server can issue Windows 2000 TSCALs.


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