Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services and CAL distribution from a Licensing Server

[Mikey]

I'm having trouble understanding the distribution of CALs from a
Windows Server 2003 server running the Licensing Service. To keep it
simple, I've got a Windows Server 2003 server running Terminal
Services. I have another Windows Server 2003 server that is not
running Terminal Services but is running the Licensing Service. Both
are AD member servers. The Licensing server has been activated with
150 TS User CALs. I set it up as an Enterprise Licensing server, so
that it would register in the Site and the Terminal Servers would
located it from the Site registration. When we started testing user
connections to the Terminal Server, I started seeing Temporary Device
TS CALs being distributed by the License Server. I then realized that
I had not changed the licensing mode for the Terminal Server from
'Device Mode' to 'User Mode'. After doing that, I expected to start
seeing the available TS User CAL count drop as User CALs were being
distributed. But right now, people are logging on but I'm not seeing
CALs distributed from either grouping....Device or User. I've always
only used Terminal Services for Remote Administration, so this is my
first time using it for actual application sharing.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

Don't worry, this is expected behaviour.
Per User licenses are currently unmanaged, which means that the
available license count will not be decremented. You will have to
keep track of the number of used and available licenses by hand.
This behaviour is expected to change in the future.
Documented here:

822134 - The Function of Terminal Server CALs in Windows Server
2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822134

--
Vera Noest
MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
http://hem.fyristorg.com/vera/IT
--- please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ---

Post by Mikey
I'm having trouble understanding the distribution of CALs from a
Windows Server 2003 server running the Licensing Service. To
keep it simple, I've got a Windows Server 2003 server running
Terminal Services. I have another Windows Server 2003 server
that is not running Terminal Services but is running the
Licensing Service. Both are AD member servers. The Licensing
server has been activated with 150 TS User CALs. I set it up as
an Enterprise Licensing server, so that it would register in the
Site and the Terminal Servers would located it from the Site
registration. When we started testing user connections to the
Terminal Server, I started seeing Temporary Device TS CALs being
distributed by the License Server. I then realized that I had
not changed the licensing mode for the Terminal Server from
'Device Mode' to 'User Mode'. After doing that, I expected to
start seeing the available TS User CAL count drop as User CALs
were being distributed. But right now, people are logging on
but I'm not seeing CALs distributed from either
grouping....Device or User. I've always only used Terminal
Services for Remote Administration, so this is my first time
using it for actual application sharing.
Thanks in advance,
Mike

[CiscoKid]

Vera, thanks so much. My worries are over.

Post by Vera Noest [MVP]
Don't worry, this is expected behaviour.
Per User licenses are currently unmanaged, which means that the
available license count will not be decremented. You will have to
keep track of the number of used and available licenses by hand.
This behaviour is expected to change in the future.
822134 - The Function of Terminal Server CALs in Windows Server
2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822134
--
Vera Noest
MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
http://hem.fyristorg.com/vera/IT
--- please respond in newsgroup, NOT by private email ---

Post by Mikey
I'm having trouble understanding the distribution of CALs from a
Windows Server 2003 server running the Licensing Service. To
keep it simple, I've got a Windows Server 2003 server running
Terminal Services. I have another Windows Server 2003 server
that is not running Terminal Services but is running the
Licensing Service. Both are AD member servers. The Licensing
server has been activated with 150 TS User CALs. I set it up as
an Enterprise Licensing server, so that it would register in the
Site and the Terminal Servers would located it from the Site
registration. When we started testing user connections to the
Terminal Server, I started seeing Temporary Device TS CALs being
distributed by the License Server. I then realized that I had
not changed the licensing mode for the Terminal Server from
'Device Mode' to 'User Mode'. After doing that, I expected to
start seeing the available TS User CAL count drop as User CALs
were being distributed. But right now, people are logging on
but I'm not seeing CALs distributed from either
grouping....Device or User. I've always only used Terminal
Services for Remote Administration, so this is my first time
using it for actual application sharing.
Thanks in advance,
Mike

[Hong]

hello Vera

This unmanaged-userCAL-license feature is still a current problem, as in
Technet article KB823313.

Any tip to automate the usage monitoring? Resources Kits LSREPORT tool?

Thanks

Hong

Post by Vera Noest [MVP]
Don't worry, this is expected behaviour.
Per User licenses are currently unmanaged, which means that the
available license count will not be decremented. You will have to
keep track of the number of used and available licenses by hand.
This behaviour is expected to change in the future.
822134 - The Function of Terminal Server CALs in Windows Server
2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822134
--
Vera Noest
MCSE, CCEA, Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
http://hem.fyristorg.com/vera/IT