Terminal Services Client Access Licenses for testing purposes
- We are developing a solution using RD RemoteApp on Windows Server 2008 R2.
In order for our QA department to test the RD RemoteApp program, as well as to document the steps to setup and configure the RD RemoteApp program, we need some TS CALs. Does Microsoft provide "temporary" TS CALs that can be used for testing purposes? In my company, the RD RemoteApp program will be tested several times during this release, with the QA servers flattened between each test.
Regards,
Matthew
Answers
- I did one more test. I installed Terminal Services and TS Licensing on a Windows Server 2008 server. I then did the following test:
1. Attempted to install the TS CAL license code on my Windows Server 2008 R2 RD Licensing server, which failed.
2. Installed the same TS CAL license code on my Windows Server 2008 TS Licensing server, which succeeded.
It was after this test that I remembered that I had installed the RC version of Windows Server 2008 R2, not the RTM. Perhaps this is the cause of the problem? I am on vacation starting tomorrow, but I will ask someone in my department to install the RTM version of Windows Server 2008 R2 and test the license codes again in my absence.
Sorry to all for the long chain...
Regards,
Matthew- Marked As Answer byLionel Chen - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorThursday, November 19, 2009 8:52 AM
Hello Matthew,
Thanks for your feedback.
If you’re using Release Candidate version of Windows Server 2008 R2, I think that should be the reason why CALs cannot be installed. Please try the CALs after the RTM upgrading and let us know the result.
Have a nice vacation! Thanks for your cooperation and patience so far.
· Lionel Chen
TechNet Subscriber Support in forum
If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfd@microsoft.com
- Marked As Answer byLionel Chen - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorThursday, November 19, 2009 8:52 AM
- Thank you, I had a nice vacation.
After installing the RTM, we were able to install the CALs without a problem.
Matthew- Marked As Answer byMatthew Theobald Tuesday, November 24, 2009 4:34 PM
All Replies
- You can run RDS without having a valid license server for awhile. I can't remember the exact # of days, but when you install the RDS role but do not specify a license server, it will give you a warning about the license server and when the program will become inoperable. This should be more than enough time to perform any testing to ensure you want to go with the RDS route.
I realize that. However, I would like QA to be able to test licensing functionality itself from a variety of clients (domain, non-domain, etc) to ensure that RD Licensing works as expected.
We do have a sheet that was sent to us as part of the Gold Partnership program (our company is a Microsoft Gold partner). However, when I attempt to install the licenses, it fails with the message "The serial number is not valid".
The side of the sheet contains the license codes (one lime green sticker, one blue sticker) is titled:
Client access license for
Microsoft Windows Terminal Server 2008
User/device licenses: 25
The other side of the sheet displays the following text:
Terminal services client access licenses
for Microsoft Windows Server 2008
Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter,
Itanium-based systems, Standard without
Hyper-V, Enterprise without Hyper-V, and
Datacenter without Hyper-V
Why can I not use this license? I should be able to use this license on a 2008 R2 server, no?
Regards,Is your R2 Licensing server activated? If not, you won't be able to activate licenses.
- I installed both RD Session Host and RD Licensing on the same Server 2008 R2 server. I activated my license server using the automatic connection, which went very smoothly. So yes, my RD License server is activated.
I then use the Install Licenses wizard to try to install the licenses. After the MS Clearinghouse server has been contacted, the wizard advances to the Wizard Not Completed page. The message for the license is "The serial number is not valid" and the Product Type is "Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2: Per User CAL (Terminal Server or Remote Desktop Session Host server)".
Any ideas why I cannot install these licenses?
Thank you for your help. Hello Matthew,
The error message “The serial number is not valid” usually means that the license code has already been used and it is contained in the Microsoft Clearing House. If it is not your case, please contact the Microsoft Clearing House at your location and report this issue:
Locate the Microsoft Clearinghouse telephone number when the license server is not activated
1. On the license server, open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. To open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
2. Select the license server. On the Action menu, click Activate Server, and then click Next.
3. On the Connection Method page, in the Connection method list, select Telephone, and then click Next.
4. On the Country or Region Selection page, select your country or region, and then click Next.
5. The Microsoft Clearinghouse telephone number for your country or region is displayed. Write down the telephone number, and then click Cancel
Please let us know the result if possible. I’d like to provide any further assistance based on your needs. Thanks.
· Lionel Chen
TechNet Subscriber Support in forum
If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfd@microsoft.com
Hello Matthew,
The error message “The serial number is not valid” usually means that the license code has already been used and it is contained in the Microsoft Clearing House. If it is not your case, please contact the Microsoft Clearing House at your location and report this issue:
Locate the Microsoft Clearinghouse telephone number when the license server is not activated
1. On the license server, open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager. To open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
2. Select the license server. On the Action menu, click Activate Server, and then click Next.
3. On the Connection Method page, in the Connection method list, select Telephone, and then click Next.
4. On the Country or Region Selection page, select your country or region, and then click Next.
5. The Microsoft Clearinghouse telephone number for your country or region is displayed. Write down the telephone number, and then click Cancel
Please let us know the result if possible. I’d like to provide any further assistance based on your needs. Thanks.
· Lionel Chen
TechNet Subscriber Support in forum
If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfd@microsoft.com
- I called Microsoft Clearinghouse; they told me that they are getting the same error (serial number is not valid) and that the license keys that I have are product activation codes, not TS CAL license codes. However, the sheet that I have clearly states "Use this license code in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 editions to install Terminal Services Client Access Licenses ("TS CALs")."
One of my co-workers used a similar sheet to install TS CALs on a Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services server. Do you suppose that these license code do not work because I am trying to install TS CALs on a Windows Server 2008 R2 RDS server?
Regards, Hello Matthew,
You can use your Windows Server 2008 CAL for either Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2. If the license code is judged as product activation code rather than CAL ones, I suspect there is something wrong with the license assignment. Please contact Partner support to report this issue and check whether the key is correct:
Microsoft Partner Network
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/supportsecurity
Let us know the result if possible. Thanks.
· Lionel Chen
TechNet Subscriber Support in forum
If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfd@microsoft.com
- I did one more test. I installed Terminal Services and TS Licensing on a Windows Server 2008 server. I then did the following test:
1. Attempted to install the TS CAL license code on my Windows Server 2008 R2 RD Licensing server, which failed.
2. Installed the same TS CAL license code on my Windows Server 2008 TS Licensing server, which succeeded.
It was after this test that I remembered that I had installed the RC version of Windows Server 2008 R2, not the RTM. Perhaps this is the cause of the problem? I am on vacation starting tomorrow, but I will ask someone in my department to install the RTM version of Windows Server 2008 R2 and test the license codes again in my absence.
Sorry to all for the long chain...
Regards,
Matthew- Marked As Answer byLionel Chen - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorThursday, November 19, 2009 8:52 AM
Hello Matthew,
Thanks for your feedback.
If you’re using Release Candidate version of Windows Server 2008 R2, I think that should be the reason why CALs cannot be installed. Please try the CALs after the RTM upgrading and let us know the result.
Have a nice vacation! Thanks for your cooperation and patience so far.
· Lionel Chen
TechNet Subscriber Support in forum
If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfd@microsoft.com
- Marked As Answer byLionel Chen - MSFTMSFT, ModeratorThursday, November 19, 2009 8:52 AM
- Hi Matthew,
How's your vacation?
If there is any difficulties or questions on this topic, please follow up here and we're glad to help you.
Leave us a note about the issue's status, when available. I highly appreciate your cooperation.
Again, wish you a nice holiday!
Lionel ChenTechNet Subscriber Support in forum
If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfd@microsoft.com
- Thank you, I had a nice vacation.
After installing the RTM, we were able to install the CALs without a problem.
Matthew- Marked As Answer byMatthew Theobald Tuesday, November 24, 2009 4:34 PM
