Recover from disasters

  • Article

Updated: November 14, 2011

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

Following are some recommendations for recovering from potential disasters.

Reinstall CALs

You might need to reinstall Terminal Services client access licenses (TS CALs) or Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) in certain disaster recovery or upgrade situations. For example, you will need to reinstall CALs if you experience a catastrophic failure or any other event that causes the loss of or corruption to the licensing database and a known backup is not available.

Upgrade a Terminal Server license server running Windows Server 2003

Upgrading a Windows Server 2003-Based Terminal Server: If you have made a backup of the TS Licensing database on the Windows Server 2003 license server, you should not attempt to restore that backup onto the license server after it has been upgraded to Windows Server 2008. If you attempt to restore it, any unissued TS CALs in the TS Licensing database are not restored, and you must call the Microsoft Clearinghouse to restore those unissued TS CALs. After you upgrade the license server to Windows Server 2008, you should make a new backup of the TS Licensing database.

Back up a Terminal Server license server running Windows Server 2003

Backing Up a Terminal Server License Server: When backing up a Terminal Server license server, back up the System State and Repair data, and the %systemdrive%\system32\lserver directory. Doing this ensures that data in both the registry and the license server database is backed up.

If you restore the System State data and the database to the same license server, any un-issued licenses are restored correctly as long as you have not replaced the operating system on the computer or removed and reinstalled Terminal Server Licensing. If you do not restore to the same computer, any un-issued licenses that are detected are not restored and an event will appear in the system log of Event Viewer. You can still restore the un-issued licenses by contacting the Microsoft Clearinghouse by phone and requesting that the licenses be reissued. When you contact the Clearinghouse, make sure that you have the License Purchase Agreement available.

Back up a Terminal Services license server running Windows Server 2008

Back Up a Terminal Services License Server: If you restore the System State data and the TS Licensing database to the same license server, any un-issued licenses are restored correctly as long as you have not replaced the operating system on the computer. If you do not restore to the same computer, any un-issued licenses that are detected are not restored and an event will appear in the system log of Event Viewer. You can still restore the un-issued licenses by contacting the Microsoft Clearinghouse by phone and requesting that the licenses be reissued.

Back up a Remote Desktop license server running Windows Server 2008 R2

Back Up a Remote Desktop License Server: If you restore the System State data and the RD Licensing database to the same license server, any un-issued licenses are restored correctly as long as you have not replaced the operating system on the computer. If you do not restore to the same computer, any un-issued licenses that are detected are not restored and an event appears in the system log of Event Viewer. You can still restore the un-issued licenses by contacting the Microsoft Clearinghouse by phone and requesting that the licenses be reissued.