This article describes how to maximize the Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services evaluation period.

To maximize evaluation, do not deploy a license server until the grace period is about to expire. For Windows Server 2003, you receive a maximum of 210 days for evaluation (a grace period of 120 days plus a temporary token of 90 days). For Microsoft Windows 2000, you receive maximum of 180 days for evaluation (a grace period of 90 days plus a temporary token of 90 days).

The evaluation period includes the following periods:

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Grace period: The period of time that a server that has Terminal Services enabled allows unlimited connections without communicating with a license server. The grace period begins when Terminal Services is enabled and ends after either 120 days or when a license server is discovered, whichever occurs first. (The grace period is 90 days for Windows 2000 Terminal Services.) If you deploy the terminal server and a license server on the same day, there is no grace period. Note Applications such as Remote Desktop and Terminal Server depend on Terminal Services. By default, Terminal Services is installed during installation of the operating system and is started automatically when you first log on. Therefore, the grace period ends 120 days from when you first start the system after the operating system is installed.

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Temporary tokens: License tokens are issued to clients that are connecting to terminal servers in Per Device mode when there are no Terminal Services Client Access License (CAL) tokens available. Temporary tokens are valid for 90 days. There is no limit to the number of temporary tokens a license server issues, but a single device is only issued a temporary token one time. After that token expires, the device can only connect if a Terminal Services CAL token is available.