If a production licensing server deployment is delayed, administrators often temporarily reset this clock by clearing the grace period registry key. Step-by-Step Grace Period Reset
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TermService\Parameters\LicenseServers
Navigating the RDS CAL License Registry Key: Path, Configuration, and Troubleshooting
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\RCM\Licensing Core rds cal license registry key
The registry key tracks the remaining time allowed for unlicensed connections.
A restart is required for this change to take effect and for the server to reach out to the specified license server. 4. Verify Activation
Delete the L$RTMTIMEBOMB... binary value. Note that you must take ownership of the GracePeriod folder to delete this entry. 3. Clear Client-Side Licensing Errors If a production licensing server deployment is delayed,
Remote Desktop Services (RDS) relies on Client Access Licenses (CALs) to legally and technically permit users or devices to connect to a Windows Server host. When licensing issues arise—such as connection errors, grace period expirations, or corrupted databases—system administrators must dive into the Windows Registry to troubleshoot.
Open the Registry Editor ( regedit.exe ) with administrative privileges. Navigate to the following location:
Doing so will completely break Remote Desktop Services, requiring a repair installation or full server rebuild. Note that you must take ownership of the
Here’s a technical guide to the in Windows Server.
Organizations may encounter issues with RDS CAL license registry keys, including: