Understand the licensing grace period

Updated: November 14, 2011

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

The grace period begins the first time the terminal server (Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003) or the RD Session Host server (Windows Server 2008 R2) accepts a client connection.

The grace period ends when either of the following conditions is met:

• A permanent Terminal Services client access license (TS CAL) is issued by a license server to a client connecting to the terminal server (Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003), or a permanent Remote Desktop Services client access license (RDS CAL) is issued by a license server to a client connecting to the RD Session Host server (Windows Server 2008 R2).

• The number of days in the grace period is exceeded.

After the terminal server receives a TS CAL, or an RD Session Host server receives an RDS CAL, we create LicensingGracePeriodEnded under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TermService\Parameters.

When we are nearing the end of the grace period, we log an event to let users know that the grace period is about to expire.

Operating System	Grace Period	Event Logged
Windows Server 2008 R2	120 days	Event 1129
Windows Server 2008	120 days	Event 1129
Windows Server 2003 R2 / Windows Server 2003	120 days	Event 1009
Windows 2000 Server	90 days

Additional references

• Citrix ICA clients are not disconnected from a Windows Server 2008 terminal server as expected when the grace period has expired and a terminal license server is not configured

• A client access license is required for a Macintosh-based computer to connect to Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services running on Windows 2000 Server

• Terminal Server Licensing grace period (Windows Server 2003)

Related topics

• Troubleshooting Remote Desktop Licensing Issues