Terminal Server Licenses

[CL_Admin]

I'd like to know how to decommision my current Terminal Server with all its licenses, and migrate them to a new server. Does anyone know of any good documentation or method that would illustrate how to do this?

-Thanks in advance!

[cluberti]

If you are building a new server the same machine name as the old, this won't require a call to Microsoft. If you build with a new name, you'll need to call the clearinghouse to get used licenses back (in the US, the # is 1-888-571-2048). From the Terminal Services FAQ on the Microsoft.com site:

Q. How do I move my licenses from one licensing server to another?

A. You should back up your Terminal Services Licensing server regularly by using the Windows Backup tool or something similar. Regular backups will help protect your licensing data from accidental loss if your system experiences hardware or storage failure.

When backing up a Terminal Server Licensing server, back up both the system state data and the folder in which the Terminal Server Licensing server is installed. This step ensures that data in both the registry and the Terminal Services licensing server database is backed up.

If you restore the system state data and the database to the original Terminal Services licensing server computer, any unissued licenses are restored correctly as long as you have not replaced the operating system on the computer. Otherwise, any unissued licenses are not restored, and an event will appear in the system log providing the unissued count.

You can still restore the unissued licenses by using the TS License Manager tool with the Telephone activation mechanism, and requesting the licenses back. You can switch to the Telephone mechanism by right clicking on the server in TS License Manager, and then selecting properties from the menu.