Question

2008 Terminal Service Licensing with 2003

Asked by: Melaleuca

Short Question:  How can I stop the 2008 TS License server from answering 2003/XP CAL requests?

Explaination:

It has come to my attention, by Microsoft, that 2003 TS Licenses cannot grant 2008 Servers a CAL.  So, I have to spin up a 2008 TS License server to answer the 2008 Server requests.  Also, 2008 CALs can be used for 2003/XP requests, BUT one cannot transfer 2003/XP Licenses to the 2008 Server, you have to repurchase 2008 CALs.  We don't want to do that.

So, I have two TS Licensing Servers, one 2003 (with lots of CALs) and one 2008 (I just activated but have not loaded any CALs).  I want the 2008 to only answer 2008 requests and all other requests go to the 2003 TS License server.  However, I have some XP machines checking into my 2008 server and checking out Temporary CALs even though I have free licenses on my 2003 Server.  But when I do, 2008 CALs work with 2003/XP and therefore would be granted to the XP machines.  I want the XP machines to request from the 2003 server.  How can I stop the 2008 TS License server from answering 2003/XP CAL requests?

This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.

Subscribe now for full access to Experts Exchange and get

Instant Access to this Solution

  • Plus...
  • 30 Day FREE access, no risk, no obligation
  • Collaborate with the world's top tech experts
  • Unlimited access to our exclusive solution database
  • Never be left without tech help again

Subscribe Now

Asked On
2009-06-30 at 13:57:21ID24534732
Tags

2008 Terminal Services

,

2003 Terminal Services

Topic

Remote Desktop/Terminal Services

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
10

Trusted by hundreds of thousands everyday for fast, accurate and reliable tech support.

  • "The time we save is the biggest benefit of Experts Exchange to Warner Bros. What could take multiple guys 2 hours or more each to find is accessed in around 15 minutes on Experts Exchange." Mike Kapnisakis, Warner Bros.
  • "Our team likes having a resource that is more secure than just using Google and most experts using this service really know their stuff. It's nice to look here first versus using Google." Dayna Sellner, Lockheed Martin
  • "Anytime that I've been stumped with a problem, 9 out of 10 times Experts Exchange has either the accepted solution or an open discussion of the potential solution to the problem." Kenny Red, eBay Inc.

See what Experts Exchange can do for you.

Got a question?

We've got the answer.

Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Need individual assistance?

Our experts are ready to help.

If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Want to learn from the best?

Read articles from industry experts.

Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.

Screenshot of an Article

Working on a long term project?

Store your work and research.

Save solutions to your questions, answers you’ve discovered through searching plus helpful articles in your personal knowledgebase for easy future access.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Access the answers to your technology questions today.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

What Makes Experts Exchange Unique?

Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Trusted by the world's most respected brands.

image of each brand's logo

Faithfully serving IT professionals since 1996.

Experts Exchange Logo

Try it out and discover for yourself.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

Related Solutions

  1. Transfer TS CAL?
    I would like to know if it is possible to transfer terminal services CALS from one server to another dynamically. I have a remote terminal server, and I don't want to buy duplicate TS CALs, because only 1 of the 2 servers would be in use at any given time.

Free Tech Articles

  1. WARNING: 5 Reasons why you should NEVER fix a computer for free.
    It is in our nature to love the puzzle. We are obsessed. The lot of us. We love puzzles. We love the challenge. We thrive on finding the answer. We hate disarray. It bothers us deep in our soul. W...
  2. SCCM OSD Basic troubleshooting
    SCCM 2007 OSD is a fantastic way to deploy operating systems, however, like most things SCCM issues can sometimes be difficult to resolve due to the sheer volume of logs to sift through and the dispe...
  3. Migrate Small Business Server 2003 to Exchange 2010 and Windows 2008 R2
    This guide is intended to provide step by step instructions on how to migrate from Small Business Server 2003 to Windows 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010. For this migration to work you will need the fo...
  4. Create a Win7 Gadget
    This article shows you how to create a simple "Gadget" -- a sort of mini-application supported by Windows 7 and Vista. Gadgets can be dropped anywhere on the desktop to provide instant information, ...
  5. Outlook continually prompting for username and password
    There have been a lot of questions recently regarding Outlook prompting for a username and password whilst using Exchange 2007. There are a few reasons why this would happen and I will try to cover t...
  6. Backup Exchange 2010 Information Store using Windows Backup
    There seems to be quite a lot of confusion around the ability to backup Exchange 2010 using the built in Windows Backup feature. This stems from the omission of this feature prior to Exchange 2007 s...

Cloud Class Webinars

  1. Avoiding Bugs in Microsoft Access
    Alison Balter takes and in-depth look at avoiding bugs in Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the immediate window to debug your applications, invoking the debugger, using breakpoints to troubleshoot, stepping through code, setting the next statement to execute, ...
  2. Top 10 Best New Features in Visio 2010
    Scott Helmers gives live demonstrations of the top 10 new features in Visio 2010. This webinar will teach you how to create compelling diagrams by adding shapes to the page with a single click, linking the shapes in a diagram to data in Excel (or SQL Server, or SharePoint), ...
  3. IT Consultant Business Secrets Revealed
    Michael Munger, Experts Exchange tech pro and IT consultant, pulls back the curtain on his very successful businesses and answers question on every IT consultant and business owner should know about. He shares secrets on what he did to solve the 5 most common problems in IT, ...
  4. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
    Quest CTO, Mike Billon, gives an overview of the steps involved in building a dunamic disaster recovery plan. Through case studies and an examination of software/hardware tooles for monitoring and testing, you'll gain a better understandin of where you are, where you want ...
  5. Organize Your Visio Diagrams with Containers and Lists
    Scott Helmers uses cross functional flowcharts, wireframe diagrams, data graphic legends and seating charts to teach you: how to ustilize all three new structured diagram components in Visio 2010, the best practices for organizeing shapes in previous version of Visio, how to organize ...
  6. How to Us Objects, Properties, Events and Methods in Microsoft Access
    Alison Dalter gives an in-depbth look at objects, properties, events and methods in Microsoft Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the object browser, referring to objects, working with properties and methods, working with object variables, understanding the ...

Join the Community

Give a Little. Get a Lot.

Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.

Join the Community

Answers

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-06-30 at 14:12:45ID: 24749669

TS CALs are not handed out according to the *client* OS, they're handed out according to the *TS* OS; there is no such thing as an "XP TS CAL".
A TS running W2k8 will only ever request W2k8 TS CALs, no matter which OS the client is running.
If you don't have a W2k3 TS anymore, you'll have to upgrade your TS CALs. Your W2k3 TS CALs are only useful in conjunction with a W2k3 TS.

 

by: MelaleucaPosted on 2009-07-01 at 05:57:06ID: 24753814

I have over 1800 workstations checking out CALs.  I need those workstations to check out their CAL from the TS License server running W2k3.  Right now I have 8 workstations checking out temporary CALs from my TS License Server running W2k8.  My question is how do I prevent my TS License Server running W2k8 from giving temporary licenses to the workstations when my TS License Server running W2k3 has valid CALs to give?  Or is this not possible?  I do not plan on getting rid of my TS licensing server running W2k3 anytime soon, we are not ready to repurchase 2000+ of the 2008 CALs.    

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-07-01 at 06:19:23ID: 24753996

This may not be what you want to hear, but again: clients accessing terminal servers running Windows Server 2008 will need Windows Server 2008 TS CALs (and Windows Server 2008 CALs as well!), full stop. There is absolutely no way around it.
The only way you can make use of your Windows Server 2003 TS CALs is by letting your clients connect to terminal servers running Windows Server 2003.

 

by: MelaleucaPosted on 2009-07-01 at 06:20:01ID: 24754003

Sorry, I think I need to clarify.  I am not an expert on TS.  I do not have any 2008 Terminal Servers yet.  Meaning, the workstations checking out temporary CALs from my 2008 TS License Server is confusing me since they are not trying to connect to a 2008 Terminal Server.  I only have 2003 Terminal Servers right now and would like them to check out one of the many open CALs on my TS License server running W2k3 or am I worrying about nothing.

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-07-01 at 06:45:29ID: 24754239

If you don't have a terminal server running W2k8, then you don't need a Server 2008 TS license server. Administrative connections to servers running in RDP mode instead of Application mode don't require a TS CAL. They're probably both running on DCs, I guess?
Since you already have one installed and obviously working, you might as well go ahead, get out your W2k3 "paper" TS CALs, call the Microsoft Clearinghouse and have them re-issue your W2k3 CALs for the new license server, then deactivate and uninstall the old TS license service; the W2k8 TS LS can identify and handle down-level TS CALs.

 

by: MelaleucaPosted on 2009-07-01 at 07:07:50ID: 24754455

I asked Microsoft Clearinghouse last week if I could move the 2003 CALs to my 2008 TS LS, and they said no.  They told me I had to repurchase 2008 CALs, that I couldn't have 2003 CALs loaded on my 2008 TS LS.  So, I set up the 2008 TS LS and am purchasing a few 2008 CALs for when my 2008 Terminal Server comes online (next week).  But I am afraid that when the I load the 2008 CALs for my 2008 Terminal Server that the workstations connecting to 2003 Terminal Servers will take the few 2008 CALs I have purchased for when my 2008 Terminal Server comes online.  Does that make since?  Hence the question of how do I get my 2008 TS LS not to give CALs for 2003 Terminal Servers, which it appears to be doing now.

As a side note, my 2003 TS LS is a DC, but my 2008 TS LS is not.

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-07-01 at 07:43:59ID: 24754870

I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere on microsoft.com that the W2k8 TS LS is able to handle down-level TS CALs as well; can't test it at the moment. You might want to try to call again, sometimes it depends on who you get on the other side.
Anyway, there are two policies that help you control which server gets which licenses.
In Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services, "Use the specified terminal server license server", and in the "Licensing" folder below "Prevent license update" (or similar).
Apply a policy to your W2k3 TS that they only access your W2k3 TS LS, and another policy to your W2k8 TS that they only access the W2k8 TS LS. Once this is configured and working, you can apply the "Prevent license update" to your W2k8 TS license server.

 

by: MelaleucaPosted on 2009-07-01 at 07:45:55ID: 24754891

I will call them again, you are right about "it depends on who you get on the other side."  

I will try that and post back.  Thanks for all your help, sorry so confusing.

 

by: MelaleucaPosted on 2009-07-03 at 08:53:22ID: 24773115

I might be missing it, but I cannot find the "Prevent License Update" or something that would stop them from updating their CAL.  I found a "Prevent License Upgrade" but that appears to be associated with Windows 2000 CALs upgrading to Windows 2003.  Will that work to prevent Windows 2003 CALs from upgrading to Windows 2008 CALs?

 

by: oBdAPosted on 2009-07-03 at 11:38:55ID: 24773861

Yes, that applies to W2k8 as well:
Control the Issuance of Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725704.aspx

20120131-EE-VQP-002

3 Ways to Join

30-Day Free Trial

The Experts

98% positive feedback on 31,087 answers since March 2000. angeliii is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with MS SQL Server & Develoment.

He has also proven his knowledge of Visual Basic Programming, PHP Scripting and Oracle Databases.

The Experts

97% positive feedback on 10,752 answers since July 2000. lrmoore has more than 18 years experience in the networking industry.

The six-time Mircosoft MVPs specialties include firewalls, virtual private networking, and network management.

Testimonials

"...and excellent source for support... Kind of like having your very own IT dept." Electriciansnet

Testimonials

"I was apprehensive at signing up at first. However... it has already made my life as an IT administrator much easier." JaCrews

Testimonials

"WOW! You guys have great, active, and knowledgeable people on here." moore50

Business Clients

Business Clients

In the Press

"If you’ve got a question... Experts Exchange can supply an answer.”

In the Press

"...an invaluable aid for both IT professionals and those who require tech support."

In the Press

"where IT professionals provide quick answers on just about any topic"

Business Account Plans

Loading Advertisement...