In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and a system for managing a collection of virtual desktops are provided. The system receives, at a license manager and from a first virtual desktop of the collection of virtual desktops, a first request to validate a license for the first virtual desktop. The system also determines whether a license is available for the first virtual desktop. The system further sends a validation status message to the first virtual desktop to indicate whether a license is available for the first virtual desktop based on the determination.