When virtual desktop support is enabled, Tableau Desktop or Tableau Prep Builder periodically contacts a Tableau-hosted authorization-to-run (ATR) service to verify that Tableau is authorized to run, based on its license. Virtual Desktop manages the login-based license management activation or product key activation, which prevents the maximum activation error from occurring when configured with the correct activation duration. Using virtual desktop support with frequently recycled VMs or regularly reimaged computers means that the VM is returned and the activation is added back to login-based license management for a future activation request. Without virtual desktop support, an activated Tableau license or login-based license management license lease remains in use until the license term expires or the license is deactivated, causing a maximum activation error. If you are still using product keys, Tableau Desktop clients must periodically connect to the Internet to communicate with the hosted license service. Tableau must communicate with Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud for login-based license management. This means that you do not need to manually refresh or deactivate the login-based license management lease or any product key. With virtual desktop support enabled, Tableau login-based license management license capacity or key leases are automatically returned when not in use after a predetermined amount of time. For more information, see Activate Tableau using Login-based License Management (Link opens in a new window). This is the preferred, and often the required, method to implement a virtual deployment of Tableau Desktop when end users are not issued product keys.

Starting with version 2020.1, virtual desktop can be configured for login-based license management (no product keys needed). The authorization-to-run (ATR) service enables the Tableau license server to manage the activation limits and deactivations of the virtual machines (VMs). Virtual desktop support is an opt-in feature of Tableau Desktop 10.5 and later and Tableau Prep Builder 2018.2.1 and later that gives you the ability to optimize your installations of Tableau for non-persistent virtual desktops, or for computers that are regularly reimaged.

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