: Manages the activation status and operational parameters of the licensing service. The Client-Side Cache Path
When you install the RD Session Host role, Microsoft grants a 120-day licensing grace period. The system tracks this countdown via a secured registry key:
The is more than just a technical path; it is the brain of your Remote Desktop Services licensing environment. Whether you are verifying the licensing mode DWORD, resetting the GracePeriod "timebomb," or troubleshooting connectivity issues, mastering these registry locations provides deep control over your RDS deployment.
The Windows Registry stores RDS licensing configuration data across a few distinct locations depending on whether you are managing the Remote Desktop Session Host (RD Session Host) or the Licensing Server itself. The Licensing Mode and Server Configuration Path rds cal license registry key
For workgroups, you may need to set DisableWorkgroupAuthEnforcement to 1 in ...\Services\TermServLicensing\Parameters .
By default, the Administrators group does not have permission to delete this key. Right-click , select Permissions , click Advanced , and change the Owner to your administrator account. Grant your account Full Control permissions.
Additionally, on a dedicated RDS License Server, license entries can be found in: : Manages the activation status and operational parameters
Search for in the Start Menu, right-click the application, and select Run as administrator .
Defines the license server IP/FQDN.
LicenseServers (String) — The FQDN of your license server. Local/Manual Configuration: Whether you are verifying the licensing mode DWORD,
If you are experiencing specific error messages or need to know how to migrate licenses to a new server, I can help you with:
: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM\GracePeriod Function : Controlling the 120-day licensing grace period. Contains a REG_BINARY entry beginning with the string L$RTMTIMEBOMB whose default permissions prevent modification. When to use : This key is modified primarily in test/lab environments when needing to reset the grace period after temporary licensing expires.
In a perfect world, you would never touch these registry keys. However, real-world troubleshooting often forces an administrator’s hand. Common scenarios include:
Right-click the key and select Export to create a backup file (.reg). Right-click the MSLicensing key again and select Delete .