Remove Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses
Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2
You can use the Manage RDS CALs Wizard in the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager tool to migrate RDS CALs from one Remote Desktop license server to a Remote Desktop license server that is running Windows Server 2008 R2. However, automatic RDS CAL migration is only supported if both 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.
Note
The license server where you are migrating the RDS CALs from is known as the source license server. The license server where you are migrating the RDS CALs to is known as the target license server.
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.
Important
You must discontinue using the source license server as a license server with the same RDS CALs that you have migrated. If you continue to use the source license server with the same RDS CALs that you migrated to the target license server, you are in violation of the Microsoft Software License Terms.
For example, if the source license server is running Windows Server 2008 R2, but the license server was not available on the network when the Managing RDS CALs Wizard was run, you need to remove the migrated RDS CALs manually from the source license server. For a license server that is running Windows Server 2008 R2, you can remove the RDS CALs by using the Remote Desktop Services Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provider. For more information about the Remote Desktop Services WMI provider, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=143459. You can also deactivate the source license server or remove the RD Licensing role service from the computer. For more information, see Deactivate a Remote Desktop License Server and Uninstall the Remote Desktop Licensing Role Service.
Automatic RDS CAL migration is not supported if the source license server is running a version of Windows Server earlier than Windows Server 2008 R2. In these instances, to remove the migrated RDS CALs manually from the source license server, you must deactivate the source license server or remove the RD Licensing role service from the computer. You cannot use the Remote Desktop Services WMI provider.