Rds Cal License Registry Key

| Aspect | Detail | |--------|--------| | Per‑User CAL tracking | Not fully stored in registry – uses AD or local DB (LSERVER\edb.log) | | Registry editing | Not supported for daily license management; use RD Licensing Manager | | Manual license entry | Do NOT manually add CALs via registry – use licmgr.exe or Import-LicensingPack | | Temp licenses | Stored in same LicenseKeyStore with expiration set |

When you configure an RDS session host to use a specific license server (either manually or via Group Policy), the server saves that information here:

Example (PowerShell view):

Path: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM\SpecifiedLicenseServers
Value: "LS1.domain.local" "LS2.domain.local"

The registry keys for Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Client Access Licenses (CALs) rds cal license registry key

are used to configure the licensing mode, specify license servers, or reset the 120-day grace period. 1. Configuring Licensing Mode & Servers

To manually set the licensing type (Per User vs. Per Device) and point the server to a specific license manager, use the following keys: Licensing Mode

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM\Licensing Core Value Name LicensingMode Data Values Per Device Specified License Servers | Aspect | Detail | |--------|--------| | Per‑User

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM Value Name SpecifiedLicenseServers (Multi-String) : Enter the FQDN or IP of your license server. Microsoft Learn 2. Resetting the 120-Day Grace Period

If your RDS grace period has expired, you can reset it by deleting the "Timebomb" key. This is typically done for testing or lab environments.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM\GracePeriod Target Entry : A binary entry starting with L$RTMTIMEBOMB Steps to Reset Take Ownership : Right-click the GracePeriod folder, select Permissions , and change the to the local "Administrators" group. Grant Permissions Full Control to the "Administrators" group. Delete Key : Right-click the When you configure an RDS session host to

This report details the technical location, structure, and function of the Windows Registry keys used to store Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Per-Device Client Access Licenses (CALs). It is intended for system administrators and IT auditors responsible for license compliance, migration, and troubleshooting.

The report clarifies the distinction between the License Server Registry (where issued licenses are stored) and the Client Device Registry (where received tokens are cached).

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a cornerstone of Windows Server, enabling multiple users to connect to a centralized server environment. At the heart of its licensing mechanism lies the Remote Desktop Services Client Access License (RDS CAL) registry key. While this key is an essential technical component for tracking and enforcing license usage, it is also a frequent source of misconfiguration, troubleshooting, and even compliance risk. Understanding the role, location, and proper management of the RDS CAL registry key is critical for any system administrator seeking a stable and legally compliant RDS deployment.