You can use the Manage RDS CALs Wizard in the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool to migrate Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) from one Remote Desktop license server to a Remote Desktop license server that is running Windows Server 2008 R2.

Note

The license server where you are migrating the RDS CALs from is known as the source license server. The license server where you are migrating the RDS CALs to is known as the target license server.

You might want to migrate RDS CALs from the source license server to the target license server if you are replacing the source license server with the target license server or if the source license server is no longer functioning.

The following are important considerations about migrating RDS CALs by using the Manage RDS CALs Wizard:

  • The target license server must be running Windows Server 2008 R2 and must be activated.

  • The source license server can be running Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, or Windows 2000.

  • Automatic RDS CAL migration removes the RDS CALs from the source license server and installs them onto the target license server.

    Note

    Automatic RDS CAL migration can be performed by using any of the three connection methods available for communicating with the Microsoft Clearinghouse. Those three methods are: Automatic connection (recommended), Web Browser, and Telephone.

  • Automatic RDS CAL migration is only supported if both the source and target license servers are running Windows Server 2008 R2 and if there is network connectivity between the two license servers when the Manage RDS CALs Wizard is run. Both license servers must also be activated.

  • If automatic RDS CAL migration cannot be performed, you must remove the migrated RDS CALs manually from the source license server after the Manage RDS CALs Wizard has finished running. For more information about removing RDS CALs, see Remove Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses.

    Important

    You must discontinue using the source license server as a license server with the same RDS CALs that you have migrated. If you continue to use the source license server with the same RDS CALs that you migrated to the target license server, you are in violation of the Microsoft Software License Terms.

  • If the source license server is not available on the network when the Manage RDS CALs Wizard is run, you need to provide the license server ID for the source license server. For information about finding the license server ID for a license server, see Find the License Server ID for a Remote Desktop License Server.

There are three methods by which you can migrate RDS CALs between two license servers:

Additional references

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