How to activate a License Server by using Terminal Server Licensing in Windows Server 2003

This step-by-step article describes how to activate a Terminal Services license server by using Terminal Server Licensing in Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Overview

You must activate a license server before it can issue licenses to Terminal Services clients. When you activate a license server, Microsoft provides the server with a digital certificate that validates server ownership and identity. By using this certificate, a license server can make transactions with Microsoft and receive client licenses for your terminal servers. When a Terminal Services client tries to log on to a terminal server for the first time, the terminal server contacts the license server and requests a license for the client

Use Terminal Server Licensing to activate a license server by using any one of the following methods

• Automatic activation
• A Web browser
• Telephone

NOTE : The procedures in this article assume that Terminal Server Licensing is installed on the server. You must also be a member of the Administrators group to perform these procedures

Activate a License Server Automatically

1. Click   Start , point to   Administrative Tools , and then click   Terminal Server Licensing
2. In the console tree, expand   All servers
   Right-click the license server that you want to activate, and then click   Activate Server . The Terminal Server License Server Activation Wizard starts
3. Click   Next
4. On the "Connection method" page, click   Automatic connection (recommended)   in the   Activation method   box, and then click   Next
5. On the "Company Information" page, type your name, company, and country or region information, and then click   Next
6. Specify any other information that you want such as e-mail and company address, and then click   NextNOTE : The information on this page is optional. Your license server is activated
7. On the "Completing the Terminal Server Activation Wizard" page, do one of the following
• To install client license key packs for your license server, click   Next . Follow the instructions in the Terminal Server Client Licensing Wizard to install client licenses
• To install client license key packs later, click to clear the   Start Terminal Server Client Licensing Wizard now   check box, and then click   Finish
8. Close the   Terminal Server Licensing   window

Activate a License Server By Using a Web Browser

1. Click   Start , point to   Administrative Tools , and then click   Terminal Server Licensing
2. In the console tree, expand   All servers .
3. Right-click the license server that you want to activate, and then click   Activate Server . The Terminal Server License Server Activation Wizard starts.
4. Click   Next .
5. On the "Connection method" page, click   Web browser   in the   Activation method   box, and then click   Next .
6. On the "License Server Activation" page, click the hyperlink to connect to the Terminal Server Activation and Licensing Web site.
7. Under   Select Option , click   Activate a license server , and then click   Next .
8. Type your Product ID (which is displayed on the "License Server Activation" page of the Terminal Server License Server Activation Wizard), name, company, and country or region information in the appropriate boxes and then click   Next . You receive your license server ID.
9. On the "License Server Activation" page, type the license server ID that you received in step 8, and then click   Next . Your license server is activated.
10. On the "Completing the Terminal Server Activation Wizard" page, do one of the following:
• To install client license key packs for your license server, click   Next . Follow the instructions in the Terminal Server Client Licensing Wizard to install client licenses.
• To install client license key packs later, click to clear the   Start Terminal Server Client Licensing Wizard now   check box, and then click   Finish .
11. Close the   Terminal Server Licensing   window.

Activating a License Server By Telephone

1. Click   Start , point to   Administrative Tools , and then click   Terminal Server Licensing .
2. In the console tree, expand   All servers .
3. Right-click the license server that you want to activate, and then click   Activate Server . The Terminal Server License Server Activation Wizard starts.
4. Click   Next .
5. On the "Connection method" page, click   Telephone   in the   Activation method   box, and then click   Next .
6. On the "Country or Region Selection" page, click your country or region, and then click   Next   to display the appropriate telephone number to call.
7. Call Microsoft by using the phone number that is displayed on the "License Server Activation" page, and then provide the Microsoft customer support representative with the Product ID that is displayed on your screen. You are also asked to provide your name, the name of your organization, and the type of licensing program that you want to use. The customer service representative processes your request to activate the license server, and creates a unique ID for your license server.
8. Type the license server ID that is provided by the customer service representative, and then click   Next . Your license server is activated.
9. On the "Completing the Terminal Server Activation Wizard" page, do one of the following:
• To install client license key packs for your license server, click   Next . Follow the instructions in the Terminal Server Client Licensing Wizard to install client licenses.
• To install client license key packs later, click to clear the   Start Terminal Server Client Licensing Wizard now   check box, and then click   Finish .
10. Close the   Terminal Server Licensing   window.

Troubleshooting

• After a license server is activated, it becomes the registrar for Terminal Services client licenses. While you are waiting to complete the activation process, your license server can issue temporary licenses for clients that allow the use of Terminal Services servers for up to 120 days.
• You can change Licensing Wizard properties, such as the connection method and company information that you set during the activation process by using Terminal Server Licensing. To do so:
1. Click   Start , point to   Administrative Tools , and then click   Terminal Server Licensing .
2. In the console tree, expand   All servers .
3. Right-click the license server you want to modify, and then click   Properties . The Terminal Server License Server Activation Wizard starts.
4. Specify the information and settings that you want in the   Installation Method ,   Required Information , and   Optional Information   tabs, and then click   OK .
5. Close the   Terminal Server Licensing   window.