Backing up a TS CAL?

[Guest]

Good day,

I don't have a lot of TS CALs available, and I am in the process of
upgrading some PCs from '98 to XP Pro, which connect to my Windows 2003
Terminal Server. Can I backup the CAL in anyway (backup the mslicensing
registry entry?), so I don't loose that CAL until its up for renewal...any
takers?

Thanks,

- Joe

 

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

An inplace upgrade will keep the license, but I guess you will be
doing a fresh install. The only way I know to move a license is by
calling the Clearinghouse:

248430 - How to Transfer Terminal Services CAL from One Computer
to Another
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=248430

I don't think that backup and restore of the license key will work
and it shouldn't be necessary either.

Your TS CALs have an expiration date of 52-89 days. Licenses that
are not used (because the client does not connect to the TS
anymore) will automatically be returned to the LS after the
expiration date. In the meantime, your new clients will get a
temporary TS CAL, which is valid for 90 days.

Note that these time periods are choosen to make sure that your
temporary license lasts long enough for the old license to become
available again. So if all of your clients have a permanent
license at the moment and you have no free TS CALs available, they
will all get a temporary license at first and later grab a
permanent license again.