Share via

Event ID 56 — Remote Desktop Services Client Access License (RDS CAL) Availability

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

When a client—either a user or a device—connects to a Remote Destkop Session Host server, the RD Session Host server determines if a Remote Desktop Services client access license (RDS CAL) is needed. The RD Session Host server then requests an RDS CAL from a Remote Desktop license server on behalf of the client attempting to connect to the RD Session Host server. If an appropriate RDS CAL is available from a license server, the RDS CAL is issued to the client, and the client will be able to connect to the RD Session Host server.

RDS CALs are installed onto a license server by using the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 56
Source: Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-Licensing
Version: 6.1
Symbolic Name: TLS_E_KEYPACK_DECRYPT_FAILED
Message: Key-pack decryption failed with Win32 error code %1!s!. Use the Telephone method to install the Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs).

Resolve

Install RDS CALs onto the license server by using the telephone method

To resolve this issue, install the Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) onto the Remote Desktop license server by using the telephone method. When you call the Microsoft Clearinghouse, ensure that your License Purchase Agreement information is readily available.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To install RDS CALs by using the telephone method:

  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. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Yes.

  3. In the left pane, click All Servers, click the name of the license server, and then on the View menu, click Properties.

  4. On the Connection Method tab, in the Connection method list, select Telephone.

  5. In the Select Country or Region list, select the appropriate country/region.

  6. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.

  7. Right-click the license server and then click Install Licenses.

  8. Click Next.

  9. On the Obtain client license key pack page, use the telephone number that is displayed to call the Microsoft Clearinghouse, and give the representative your Remote Desktop license server ID and the required information for the licensing program through which you purchased your RDS CALs. The representative then processes your request to install RDS CALs, and gives you a unique ID for the RDS CALs. This unique ID is referred to as the license key pack ID.

    Important:  Retain a copy of the license key pack ID. Having this information with you will facilitate communications with the Microsoft Clearinghouse should you need assistance with recovering RDS CALs.

  10. In the Install Licenses Wizard, on the Obtain client license key pack page, enter the license key pack ID provided by the representative into the boxes provided, and then click Next. The RDS CALs are installed onto the license server.

  11. To complete the process, click Finish. The license server can now issue RDS CALs to clients that connect to a Remote Desktop Session Host server.

Verify

To verify that Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) are installed and available on the Remote Desktop license server, use the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To verify that RDS CALs are installed and available:

  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. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Yes.
  3. In the left pane, expand All Servers, and then click the license server. In the right pane, the type, version, and number of RDS CALs installed on the license server is listed.

Note:  To verify that the Remote Desktop Session Host server can contact a Remote Desktop license server with the appropriate type of RDS CALs, use Licensing Diagnosis in the Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration tool on the RD Session Host server.

Remote Desktop Services Client Access License (RDS CAL) Availability

Remote Desktop Services