Migrate client access licenses
Updated: November 14, 2011
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2
Follow these steps to migrate CALs, depending on your situation.
Note
To open Remote Desktop Licensing Manager (RD Licensing Manager), click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Remote Desktop Services, and then click Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.
To open Terminal Services Licensing Manager (TS Licensing Manager), click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Terminal Services, and then click TS Licensing Manager.
To manage your license server, go to the Terminal Services Licensing website, where you can activate a license server, install CAL tokens, reactivate a license server, and manage CALs. If you experience issues, use the Telephone method described in the following steps.
Migrating CALs from a Windows Server 2003/Windows Server 2008 source to a Windows Server 2003/Windows Server 2008 target
Activate the target license server
Set up a computer running Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008.
Open TS Licensing Manager.
In the left pane, activate the server by right-clicking the server name under the All Servers node and selecting Activate Server. The Activate Server Wizard opens.
Click Next. Select Telephone as your connection method, and then click Next.
On the Country or Region Selection page, select your appropriate country and region.
The next page will provide you with the license server ID and the Microsoft Clearinghouse telephone number to call. Write them on a piece of paper but don’t make the call yet. You may want to keep the wizard open.
De-activate the source license server
Open TS Licensing Manager on the source license server.
In the left pane, right-click the server name under the All Servers node, select Properties, and then set the connection method to Telephone.
Right-click the server name under the All Servers node, click Advanced, and then click Deactivate Server. The License Server Deactivation Wizard opens. Click Next.
On the License Server Deactivation page, you will be provided with the same Clearinghouse phone number and the license server ID of the source server. Make a note of this license server ID because you need to provide this to Microsoft Clearinghouse.
Call Microsoft Clearinghouse at the number you have noted and give them the product IDs of the target license server that you want to activate and of the source license server that you want to deactivate. After you have given them this information, Microsoft Clearinghouse will provide you with the confirmation code. Enter this code into the License Server Deactivation Wizard when prompted.
Move each of the license key packs one by one from the source license server to the target license server
On the same call with the Clearinghouse, inform them that you also want to migrate the licenses.
Open the License Install Wizard on the new license server.
Provide the following information to the Clearinghouse, which they will use to generate the new license key pack ID:
The license server ID of the source license server
Paper work for the original Terminal Services licenses
Enter the new license key pack ID in the Install License Wizard and complete the license installation on the target license server.
Repeat the same process to migrate all license key packs.
Migrating CALs from a Windows Server 2008 R2 source to a Windows Server 2008 R2 target
Activate the target license server
Set up a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2.
Open RD Licensing Manager.
In the left pane, activate the server by right-clicking the server name under the All Servers node and selecting Activate Server. The Activate Server Wizard opens.
Click Next. Continue with the default of Automatic connection (recommended) as your connection method, and then click Next.
Complete these fields: First Name, Last Name, Company, & Country or Region, and then click Next.
Complete these fields (optional): Email, Organizational Unit, Company Address, City, State/Province, and Postal Code, and then click Next.
This activates the license server. Clear the Start Install Licenses Wizard now check box, and then click Finish.
Run the CAL Migration Wizard on the target license server
Open RD Licensing Manager.
In the left pane, right-click the server name, click Properties, and then verify that the connection method is set to Automatic connection (recommended).
In the left pane, under All Servers, right-click the server name, and then click Manage RDS CALs.
Click Next, and then select Migrate RDS CALs from another license server to this license server. In the list, select The source license server is being replaced by this license server.
Under Source license server name or IP address, type in the server name and IP address, and then click Next.
Fill in the details under License Program, and then click Next.
Fill in the Agreement number, and then click Next.
Select the Product Version, License Type, and Quantity, and then click Next.
The wizard migrates the CALs from the source license server. Close the wizard.
Migrating CALs from a Windows Server 2003/Windows Server 2008 source to a Windows Server 2008 R2 target
Activate the target license server
Set up a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2.
Open RD Licensing Manager.
In the left pane, activate the server by right-clicking the server name under the All Servers node and selecting Activate Server. The Activate Server Wizard opens.
Click Next. Continue with the default of Automatic connection (recommended) as your connection method, and then click Next.
Complete these fields: First Name, Last Name, Company, & Country or Region, and then click Next.
Complete these fields (optional): Email, Organizational Unit, Company Address, City, State/Province, and Postal Code, and then click Next.
This activates the license server. Clear the Start Install Licenses Wizard now check box, and then click Finish.
Run the CAL Migration Wizard on the target license server
Open RD Licensing Manager.
In the left pane, right-click the server name, click Properties, and then verify that the connection method is set to Automatic connection (recommended).
In the left pane, under All Servers, right-click the server name, and then click Manage RDS CALs.
Click Next, and then select Migrate RDS CALs from another license server to this license server. In the list, select The source license server is being replaced by this license server.
The wizard will detect that the source is running an operating system that does not support automatic migration of RDS CALs.
Select the check box to accept the license terms, and then click Next.
Fill in the details under License Program, and then click Next.
Fill in the Agreement number, and then click Next.
Select the Product Version, License Type, and Quantity, and then click Next.
The wizard migrates the CALs from the source license server. Close the wizard.
Note
A migration across domains or forests requires a two-way trust.
Note
If the source license server is running an operating system version prior to Windows Server 2008 R2, it must be manually decommissioned during this migration.
Frequently asked questions
How do I migrate RDS CALs or TS CALs to a Remote Desktop license server running Windows Server 2008 R2? (Remote Desktop Licensing Role Service Migration Guide)
How do I migrate from Windows Server 2008 R2 to a different server running Windows Server 2008 R2? (License server migration is an added feature in Windows Server 2008 R2. When you right-click the server name, you see the Manage RDS CALs option. After selecting this, the Manage RDS CALs Wizard opens to guide you through the migration process.)
How do I migrate a Windows Server 2003 license server to Windows Server 2008?
How do I migrate a Windows Server 2003 license server to Windows Server 2008 R2?
How do I migrate a Windows Server 2008 license server to Windows Server 2008 R2?
How do I remove RDS CALs? (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.)