Event ID 18 — Terminal Services License Server Activation

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

To install and issue Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs), a Terminal Services license server must first be activated. When the license server is activated, Microsoft provides the license server with a limited-use digital certificate that validates server ownership and identity. Microsoft uses the X.509 industry standard certificate for this purpose. Using this certificate, a license server can make subsequent transactions with Microsoft.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 18
Source: Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-Licensing
Version: 6.0
Symbolic Name: TLS_W_STARTUPNOCERT
Message: The Terminal Services license server "%1" has not been activated and therefore will only issue temporary licenses. To issue permanent Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs), the Terminal Services license server must be activated.

Resolve

Activate the Terminal Services license server

To resolve this issue, activate the Terminal Services license server by using TS Licensing Manager.

Note:  The automatic activation method requires Internet connectivity from the computer running the TS Licensing Manager tool. Internet connectivity is not required from the license server itself. This method uses TCP/IP (TCP port 443) to connect directly to the Microsoft Clearinghouse. You can also activate the license server by using a Web browser or by using the telephone. For more information about these activation methods, see "Activate a Terminal Services License Server" in the TS Licensing Manager Help in the Windows Server 2008 Technical Library (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=101640).

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To activate the license server automatically:

  1. On the license server, open TS Licensing Manager. To open TS Licensing Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Terminal Services, and then click TS Licensing Manager.
  2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
  3. In the left pane, click All Servers, click the name of the license server, and then on the Action menu, click Activate Server. The Activate Server Wizard starts.
  4. Click Next.
  5. On the Connection Method page, in the Connection method list, select Automatic connection (recommended), and then click Next.
  6. On the Company Information page, type your name, company, and country/region information, and then click Next.
  7. Specify any other information that you want to provide, such as e-mail and company address. This information is optional.
  8. Click Next. Your license server is activated.
  9. On the Completing the Activate Server Wizard page, clear the Start Install Licenses Wizard now check box, and then click Finish.

Verify

To verify that the Terminal Services license server is activated, use the TS Licensing Manager tool.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To verify that the license server is activated:

  1. On the license server, open TS Licensing Manager. To open TS Licensing Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, point to Terminal Services, and then click TS Licensing Manager.
  2. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
  3. In the left pane, click All Servers.
  4. In the right pane, the Activation Status for the license server should be listed as Activated.

Terminal Services License Server Activation

Terminal Services