Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Licensing (RD Licensing)

What is Remote Desktop Licensing?

About Remote Desktop Licensing

How do I activate a license server and install Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs)?

Deploying a Remote Desktop License Server

Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services Licensing (TS Licensing)

How do I activate a license server and install Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs)?

Deploying TS Licensing

Windows Server 2003 R2 Terminal Server Licensing (TS Licensing)

What is Terminal Server Licensing?

The Windows Server 2003 operating system family provides a client license management system known as Terminal Server Licensing. This system allows terminal servers to obtain and manage Terminal Server client access licenses (TS CALs) for devices and users connecting to a terminal server. Terminal Server Licensing is a component service of Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition. It can manage unlicensed, temporarily licensed, and client-access licensed clients, and supports terminal servers that run Windows Server 2003 as well as the Windows 2000 Server operating system. This greatly simplifies the task of license management for the system administrator, while minimizing under- or over-purchasing of licenses for an organization. Terminal Server Licensing is used only with Terminal Server and not with Remote Desktop for Administration.

How do I activate a license server and install Terminal Server client access licenses (TS CALs)?

Configure Terminal Server Licensing

What happens when I upgrade my Windows Server 2003 terminal server to Windows Server 2003 R2?

Windows Server 2003 terminal servers configured in Per Device mode and upgraded to Windows Server 2003 R2 will remain in Per Device mode. Windows Server 2003 terminal servers configured in Per Session mode and upgraded to Windows Server 2003 R2 will be placed in Per User mode.

What happens when I upgrade my Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server license server to Windows Server 2003 R2?

Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server license servers upgraded to Windows Server 2003 R2 will retain previously installed Per Device and Per Session Terminal Server client access licenses (TS CALs). Note that only pre-R2 terminal servers configured in Per Session mode will utilize Per Session licenses. After upgrading to Windows Server 2003 R2, you will have the choice of installing additional Per Device licenses or new Per User licenses.

How is Windows Server 2003 TS per User CALs managed in Windows Server 2003 R2?

There is currently no method of assigning Per User licenses to specific users in Windows Server 2003. For more information, see Terminal Server Licensing in Windows Server 2003.

Where can I find more information?

Troubleshooting Remote Desktop Licensing Issues(applies to all versions)
Remote Desktop Services Overview in Windows Server 2012
Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008 R2
Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008
Terminal Services in Windows Server 2003
Terminal Server Licensing in Windows Server 2003
Remote Desktop Licensing Role Service Migration