Help understanding Terminal Services licensing

reicherb

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2000
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Can someone help me out with terminal services licensing? It just seems confusing to me. The way I understand it is I need a license on the server for each client and then a client license for each connection unless I have 2000/XP?

If I've got a Win2k Server with 5 licenses and plan to go with terminal service with 5 regular logins and 5 terminal service connections, and if 8 PCs are Win98 and 2 PCs are WinXP then I should need 10 CALs and 3 terminal service licenses if both XP machines will be making terminal service connections.

Is that right? Am I missing anything? Am I the only one confused by all of this?

Thanks.



I think that is what they are saying here right?

Certain CALs are Required
A Windows 2000 Server Client Access License (CAL) is required to access Terminal Services as well as other basic network/application services in the Windows 2000 operating system.
A Windows 2000 Terminal Services CAL or any Windows 2000 operating system license is required to run Windows-based desktop and applications from Terminal Services in Windows 2000 Server.
In summary, if you have enabled the Terminal Services of Windows 2000 and are running applications off the server, you need a Windows 2000 CAL PLUS a Windows 2000 Terminal Services CAL or a Windows 2000 operating system license for each workstation using Terminal Services.

Note: Terminal Services is licensed on a Per Seat basis and is not available on a Per Server or concurrent basis with the exception of the Terminal Services Internet Connector License explained below.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
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The way TS works is you'll need a server license and a CAL for every computer that connects to it. Now...Microsoft was trying to get everyone to upgrade to Windows 2000 and XP so they included CALs in those versions. You'll only need 8 CALs for your setup. Keep in mind that if you install Citrix, you'll need a CAL for every TS connection you make using Citrix. That gets expensive, but Microsoft makes the rules.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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MS requires CAL's (Client Access Licenses) for each LAN Client. Win XP and Win 2k Pro both have CAL's built in. XP Home and ME however do not. they will require separate CAL's.

as to your question regarding TS CAL's they are DIFFERENT. each client accessing the server via TS requires a SEPARATE TS CAL EVEN IF it is a Win 2k / XP Pro and has it's own CAL. the CAL's that are built in are ONLY good for LAN's not for remote access.

hope this clarifies things for you.

so in your scenario, IF your xp pro machines are on the LAN and the 5 ts clients are all win 98 than you would need 3 CAL's and 5 TS CAL's.


If you have any questions PM me. i've done a lot with this licensing stuff and i've spent a lot of time talking to MS about these, so i'm sure i got it right. :)
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
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To be totally honest with you, I think Windows is pretty good. If you compare it to Linux, you're not getting a bargain....but I remember back in the days that spreadsheet applications and word processing applications were thousands of dollars each with minimal support. When you compare those to a standard product like Microsoft Office and look at the cost to have a nice GUI to run all you applications on, it's pretty economical. However, this is more for the business world that it saves money. When you look at home use, it's almost pointless to argue that Microsoft isn't expensive. There are more pirated copies of Windows than any other OS. :p
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
MS requires CAL's (Client Access Licenses) for each LAN Client. Win XP and Win 2k Pro both have CAL's built in. XP Home and ME however do not. they will require separate CAL's.

as to your question regarding TS CAL's they are DIFFERENT. each client accessing the server via TS requires a SEPARATE TS CAL EVEN IF it is a Win 2k / XP Pro and has it's own CAL. the CAL's that are built in are ONLY good for LAN's not for remote access.

hope this clarifies things for you.

so in your scenario, IF your xp pro machines are on the LAN and the 5 ts clients are all win 98 than you would need 3 CAL's and 5 TS CAL's.


If you have any questions PM me. i've done a lot with this licensing stuff and i've spent a lot of time talking to MS about these, so i'm sure i got it right. :)
That sounds right...I remembered that Win2k and XP pro had the built in CAL, but I'm not looking at my notes. I went to an MS licensing workshop about 8 months ago so my memory is a little rusty... I just remember everyone asking about their scenarios: "Would I need a CAL if.....?" The microsoft lady kept cutting them off before they could finish and said, "Yes you would." It was pretty funny and depressing at the same time.
 

Tallgeese

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
MS requires CAL's (Client Access Licenses) for each LAN Client. Win XP and Win 2k Pro both have CAL's built in. XP Home and ME however do not. they will require separate CAL's.

as to your question regarding TS CAL's they are DIFFERENT. each client accessing the server via TS requires a SEPARATE TS CAL EVEN IF it is a Win 2k / XP Pro and has it's own CAL. the CAL's that are built in are ONLY good for LAN's not for remote access.

hope this clarifies things for you.

so in your scenario, IF your xp pro machines are on the LAN and the 5 ts clients are all win 98 than you would need 3 CAL's and 5 TS CAL's.


If you have any questions PM me. i've done a lot with this licensing stuff and i've spent a lot of time talking to MS about these, so i'm sure i got it right. :)
Ummmm, actually I think you have this reversed....according to how I've gotten the licensing structure from talking with MS licensing folks. Here is the info straight for MS' website:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/pricing/types.asp">Client Access Licenses Available in both Per Seat and Per Server Licensing Modes
Allows client computers to access any Windows 2000 Server in a network. Required for any computer, including those running Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT Workstation, or Windows 2000 Professional</a>.
and
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/pricing/faq.asp">Q. If I have licensed a client operating system already, do I need a CAL in order to connect to a Windows 2000 Server?

A. Yes, CALs are separate from the desktop operating system used to connect to Microsoft server products. Licensing an operating system (Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows for Workgroups, and so on) does not give you a license to connect to a Windows 2000 Server product</a>.
They are talking about LAN connections here. To connect to a Windows 2000 server from ANY OS to use Server services (file, print, etc.) on a LAN, you need a Windows 2000 CAL.

As far as Terminal Services licensing goes:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/pricing/tsfaq.asp">Q. What licenses are required to run Terminal Services in Windows 2000?

A. Three product licenses are associated with Terminal Services in Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 Server is required for hosting Terminal Services sessions.
A Windows 2000 CAL or a BackOffice® CAL is required to access Windows 2000 Terminal Services and other basic network/application services in the Windows 2000 operating system.
A Windows 2000 Terminal Services CAL, a Windows 2000 Professional license or a Windows XP Professional license is required to run applications on a Windows 2000 Server via Terminal Services.
Additionally, you are required to ensure that the applications you are running on the terminal server are properly licensed. For instance, Microsoft Office applications are licensed per-device. Each device that runs Office via a terminal server must have a license for Microsoft Office.</a>
In a nutshell, you obviously have to have a Windows 2002 Server OS license for the terminal server itself (duh!), a Windows 2000 CAL for connect to the Terminal Server, then either a Terminal Services CAL or Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP PROFESSIONAL (Home does NOT include a TS license) installed on the client machine.

Simple, really. But the inverse of what you described, PG... :)
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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TG

sorry

but i'm 100% sure i'm correct. i've been over this 1000 times with the MS rep on the phone.

another way to look at it is, you buy win 2000 server with 5 cal's, those cal's only apply to os's that don't have lan cal's built in (win 9x, win me, win xp Home) other Os's don't use those cal's (win 2000 pro and win xp pro). i have many networks setup where they have more than 5 workstations logging into the same win 2k server with only 5 cal's because all the clients have win 2k pro os's. the only lans where i have problems w/ cals are those that have more than 5 clients w/ OS's other than win2k pro or win xp pro.

the ts license is only needed for each ts USER, not machine but USER. when you got to ts manager you will see a list of seats. that is filled not by machines but USERS, so it doesn't matter what the OS of the incoming client is as long as there is an available slot. the cal's that come with win2k pro have NOTHING to do with terminal services licensing.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
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71
Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. If I have licensed a client operating system already, do I need a CAL in order to connect to a Windows 2000 Server?

A. Yes, CALs are separate from the desktop operating system used to connect to Microsoft server products. Licensing an operating system (Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows for Workgroups, and so on) does not give you a license to connect to a Windows 2000 Server product.

this quote deals ONLY with LICENSED OS's not CAL's. A client OS such as win98 can be LICENSED but not have a CAL.

Q. What licenses are required to run Terminal Services in Windows 2000?

A. Three product licenses are associated with Terminal Services in Windows 2000.

Windows 2000 Server is required for hosting Terminal Services sessions.
A Windows 2000 CAL or a BackOffice?CAL is required to access Windows 2000 Terminal Services and other basic network/application services in the Windows 2000 operating system.
A Windows 2000 Terminal Services CAL, a Windows 2000 Professional license or a Windows XP Professional license is required to run applications on a Windows 2000 Server via Terminal Services.
Additionally, you are required to ensure that the applications you are running on the terminal server are properly licensed. For instance, Microsoft Office applications are licensed per-device. Each device that runs Office via a terminal server must have a license for Microsoft Office.

This quote is also not CLEAR or DISTINCT. win2k server is required. this is obvious. win 2000 ts cal is required, well this is debatable. they don't sell ts cal's based on OS's, they sell you a number of ts cal's and any OS that can run TS Client can access that ts server. so it's not SPECIFIC to win2k. that's just a mistake.
Windows 2000 Professional license or a Windows XP Professional license is required to run applications on a Windows 2000 Server via Terminal Services.
this quote is just plain wrong. i have many clients using win 98 to access ts. all they need is the ts cal (that resides on the SERVER). i've verified that this is a kosher setup with MS.

Additionally, you are required to ensure that the applications you are running on the terminal server are properly licensed. For instance, Microsoft Office applications are licensed per-device. Each device that runs Office via a terminal server must have a license for Microsoft Office
tho this is good to be aware of it isn't relative to the discussion.


also, the PER SEAT vs PER SERVER MODE only applies to LAN CAL's not to TS CAL's. TS Server only gives you two options for licensing Remote administration (which only gives you 2 cals for TS which are built in btw and can only be used by the administrator account) and application server mode, which requires that you license it. those licenses when you buy them are ONLY installed on the server and NOT on the client and any client, even macs (i've done it using hoblink) can access ts server w/o separate licenses on the CLIENT MACHINE.

Finally this quote.
Allows client computers to access any Windows 2000 Server in a network. Required for any computer, including those running Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT Workstation, or Windows 2000 Professional.

This quote says that CAL's are required for any computer, it doesn't however state that Win 2k pro DOESN'T HAVE THOSE cal's built in, WHICH they do.

It's not simple and I did have it right the first time.
 

Tallgeese

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
i'm 100% sure i'm correct. i've been over this 1000 times with the MS rep on the phone.
One of us has it backwards, fer sure. And it's not me...and I have ALSO been over it (what seems like) 1000s of times with MS.
another way to look at it is, you buy win 2000 server with 5 cal's, those cal's only apply to os's that don't have lan cal's built in (win 9x, win me, win xp Home) other Os's don't use those cal's (win 2000 pro and win xp pro).
This is completely wrong. If the server is in PER-SERVER licensing mode, then those CALS license a TOTAL of 5 concurrent connections for Server services (file, print, etc.) from that particular Server at any given time. However, if the server is in PER-SEAT mode, then those 5 licenses can be permanently "assigned" (not an actual installation process, BTW) to any 5 workstations REGARDLESS of desktop OS (and including W2K Pro!!!), and those 5 machines can then access ANY Windows 2000 Server they ever wish to.

How do I know this? IMHO, it doesn't get spelled out any plainer (this from MS' own website):
Q. If I have licensed a client operating system already, do I need a CAL in order to connect to a Windows 2000 Server?

A. Yes, CALs are separate from the desktop operating system used to connect to Microsoft server products. Licensing an operating system (Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows for Workgroups, and so on) does not give you a license to connect to a Windows 2000 Server product.
As for:
i have many networks setup where they have more than 5 workstations logging into the same win 2k server with only 5 cal's because all the clients have win 2k pro os's. the only lans where i have problems w/ cals are those that have more than 5 clients w/ OS's other than win2k pro or win xp pro.
Again...not to cast aspersions, but that doesn't prove anything. Are you sure those servers without problems are ACTUALLY running in PER-SERVER mode? If a Server is in PER-SEAT mode, then the Server does not limit connections in any way (well, not EXACTLY true, but for the services we are talking about, it is).

As far as TS is concerned...here goes:
Q. What licenses are required to run Terminal Services in Windows 2000?

A. Three product licenses are associated with Terminal Services in Windows 2000.

[skip...already determined, not relevant to topic anymore]
[skip...already determined, not relevant to topic anymore]
A Windows 2000 Terminal Services CAL, a Windows 2000 Professional license or a Windows XP Professional license is required to run applications on a Windows 2000 Server via Terminal Services.
Additionally, you are required to ensure that the applications you are running on the terminal server are properly licensed. For instance, Microsoft Office applications are licensed per-device. Each device that runs Office via a terminal server must have a license for Microsoft Office.
And yes I know that the issue of application licensing is a COMPLETELY separate issue, and not on-point to the current discussion, but it MUST also be taken into account when setting up Terminal Services to serve applications, so I left it in as a reminder.

There is a clarification about the "built-in" TS licenses for W2K Pro and WXP Pro. They aren't really "built-in" at all, it is simply that the Windows 2000 Server OS doesn't "charge" (by assigning a permanent CAL) to desktops running W2K Pro or WXP Pro:
I Q. Do Windows XP and Windows 2000 Professional have built-in Terminal Services CALs?

A. No, Microsoft's desktop operating system products (including Windows XP and Windows 2000 Professional) do not have a "built-in" Terminal Services CAL. Rather, the Windows 2000 server issues machines running Windows 2000/XP Professional with a ?free? Terminal Services CAL from its built-in pool (and its use is permitted under the Windows 2000 Server EULA). Windows XP Professional is a successor to Windows 2000 Professional, and as a result does not need a Terminal Services CAL to access a Windows 2000 Server running Terminal Services. However, Windows XP Home Edition is not a successor to Windows 2000 Professional (rather, it is a successor to Windows Millennium Edition) and therefore does require a Terminal Services CAL in order to access Windows 2000 Terminal Services.
Here's the thinking behind the TS CAL:
* Terminal Services offer a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" to TS clients.
* MS figures that folks NOT running a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" OS (or its successor, Windows XP Professional) need to pay a license (the TS CAL itself) to get the benefits of running that newer, better "desktop," since they HAVEN'T paid for it yet.
* MS figures that folks who ARE running a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" OS (or its successor, Windows XP Professional) do NOT need to pay a license (the TS CAL itself) to get the benefits of running that newer, better "desktop," since they have ALREADY paid for that particular OS once.

And TS CAL licensing IS based on machine, NOT user, not only because it fits with the logic above (do you license a desktop OS to a user? No...it's licensed to THE MACHINE!) as explained here:
Q. Why do I need to allocate Terminal Services CALs to each device that connects to the terminal server? Why can't I allocate Terminal Services CALs to the server and use them concurrently?

A. Microsoft?s licensing for desktop applications and Windows terminal servers has always been on a per-device/per-seat basis. Windows 2000 Terminal Services is no different from Terminal Server 4.0 in that respect. This licensing model is appropriate for what the majority of Microsoft's customers are doing?deploying line-of-business applications to their users? desktops.
This can be a boon if you have multiple employees using the same desktop machine for TS access (only one TS CAL needed), or a bane if you have an employee using many different desktop machines for TS access (TS CAL needed for EACH desktop)
the ts license is only needed for each ts USER, not machine but USER. when you got to ts manager you will see a list of seats. that is filled not by machines but USERS, so it doesn't matter what the OS of the incoming client is as long as there is an available slot.
Wrong again. In fact, the previous quote addresses that VERY issue, since you are talking about something more akin to concurrent usage, which is expressly not supported by TS licensing (MS makes no provision for that kind of licensing for TS).

TS CALS ARE assigned per MACHINE. Look in the Terminal Server Licence Manager, and you will see it. The CALs are assigned to machines, since the machine name is listed. Also, if TS CALS were assigned by user and NOT by machine, then why would the following even be an issue at all:
License Transfer and Token Recovery
Q. What happens to the license token if I have to re-install the client's operating system?

A. If you upgrade the client's operating system, the license token is preserved?unless you reformat the client machine, or reset local flash memory on a Windows-based terminal. (If you do this, the license token will be lost). If the license token was issued to the device after the Terminal Services license token re-issuance hotfix was applied to the terminal server and the license server, the license token will automatically be recovered in either of the following ways:

If there are no more license tokens available, a temporary license token will be issued, which is valid for 90 days. The ?lost? token will become available on the license server 52-89 days after it was originally issued. After this period, the license token will be issued to the device the next time it connects to the terminal server.
If license tokens are available, a new license token will be issued to the newly formatted device. The ?lost? token will become available on the license server 52-89 days after it was originally issued, for another device to acquire.
or this:
Q. I need to transfer a Terminal Services CAL internally in my company from one client device to another. How do I accomplish this?

A. The Terminal Services CAL end user license agreement (EULA) is a per-seat license. It allows for a one-time, permanent transfer of the license to another client device. The transfer of any license token that was issued to a device after the license token re-issuance hotfix was applied will occur automatically.
or this:
Q. My device failed, and then failed again! Can I use the Terminal Services CAL again?

A. Yes. License tokens that were issued after the re-issuance hotfix will be automatically re-issued to a new device each time an existing device breaks. You will need to contact the customer services center to ask for a re-issue for any license tokens that were issued prior to the installation of the re-issuance hotfix.
Notice how in those three items only the words "DEVICE" or "DEVICES" are used? That's because--AGAIN--TS CALS are issued per device/machine, not per user!
the cal's that come with win2k pro have NOTHING to do with terminal services licensing.
You are EXACTLY right about that one thing.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
0
71
Quote

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License Transfer and Token Recovery
Q. What happens to the license token if I have to re-install the client's operating system?

A. If you upgrade the client's operating system, the license token is preserved?unless you reformat the client machine, or reset local flash memory on a Windows-based terminal. (If you do this, the license token will be lost). If the license token was issued to the device after the Terminal Services license token re-issuance hotfix was applied to the terminal server and the license server, the license token will automatically be recovered in either of the following ways:

If there are no more license tokens available, a temporary license token will be issued, which is valid for 90 days. The ?lost?token will become available on the license server 52-89 days after it was originally issued. After this period, the license token will be issued to the device the next time it connects to the terminal server.
If license tokens are available, a new license token will be issued to the newly formatted device. The ?lost?token will become available on the license server 52-89 days after it was originally issued, for another device to acquire.

If the user of the TS LOGS out vs just DISCONNECTING that TS Licencse is RELEASED and can be used by ANOTHER MACHINE. ANY MACHINE over the internet can access that TS if the ports are open.

Again, I have logged on to a TS Server with a MAC using Hoblink and there is NO LICENSE built into that machine it is just using a slot that's available.

Here's the thinking behind the TS CAL:
* Terminal Services offer a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" to TS clients.
* MS figures that folks NOT running a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" OS (or its successor, Windows XP Professional) need to pay a license (the TS CAL itself) to get the benefits of running that newer, better "desktop," since they HAVEN'T paid for it yet.
* MS figures that folks who ARE running a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" OS (or its successor, Windows XP Professional) do NOT need to pay a license (the TS CAL itself) to get the benefits of running that newer, better "desktop," since they have ALREADY paid for that particular OS once.

actually TS runs a Windows 2k SERVER desktop not a PROFESSIONAL desktop. the only thing limiting the user from having full administrative rights to the SERVER via TS is the user permissions. TS isn't licensing MACHINES it is licensing USERS on the server.

Again...not to cast aspersions, but that doesn't prove anything. Are you sure those servers without problems are ACTUALLY running in PER-SERVER mode? If a Server is in PER-SEAT mode, then the Server does not limit connections in any way (well, not EXACTLY true, but for the services we are talking about, it is).

I can't say as to whethor or not it limits connections BUT i do get a warning when i've exceeded the number of clients that the server product is licensed for. and guess what , that ONLY happens when it exceeds the number of clients that are NON Win 2k Pro.

at this point, we have probably gone beyond what the original poster asked.

a lot of our disagreement mb in the use of terminology, i will be the first to admit that i'm not strong on proper use of terminology. i've probably misused client, seat, cal etc. BUT i know what is required by MS to be safe. i've had ms reps check out my installs and the way my clients use the cals and i've clearly been told that my setups were kosher. I wouldn't do business w/o those kinds of assurances.

I know that i have accessed my ts server from at least 15 different machines. it's not how many machines that you've established tokens that are important, BUT how many are logged on simultaneously. I also know that i can't have more than 2 users logged on simultaneously. I've been reassured by my MS rep that this is a perfectly acceptable solution. i don't have to buy more licenses every time i want to administer my server from a different state because it isn't the MACHINE that is important but the number of concurrent users. if i'm reading you correctly your saying that i would have to buy an additional pack of ts cals every time i exceed my current limit of cals by administering my server from different unique pc's. that's just not the case.

 

Tallgeese

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
Quote

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License Transfer and Token Recovery
Q. What happens to the license token if I have to re-install the client's operating system?

A. If you upgrade the client's operating system, the license token is preserved?unless you reformat the client machine, or reset local flash memory on a Windows-based terminal. (If you do this, the license token will be lost). If the license token was issued to the device after the Terminal Services license token re-issuance hotfix was applied to the terminal server and the license server, the license token will automatically be recovered in either of the following ways:

If there are no more license tokens available, a temporary license token will be issued, which is valid for 90 days. The ?lost?token will become available on the license server 52-89 days after it was originally issued. After this period, the license token will be issued to the device the next time it connects to the terminal server.
If license tokens are available, a new license token will be issued to the newly formatted device. The ?lost?token will become available on the license server 52-89 days after it was originally issued, for another device to acquire.
If the user of the TS LOGS out vs just DISCONNECTING that TS License is RELEASED and can be used by ANOTHER MACHINE. ANY MACHINE over the internet can access that TS if the ports are open.
And you are most likely looking at Terminal Services Manager, not the Terminal Services LICENSE MANAGER (I'm not sure you realize that those are 2 separate utilities)

Again...why in the HECK does it refer to client MACHINE and NOT user in the above quote, if CALs are assigned they way you say they are?
Again, I have logged on to a TS Server with a MAC using Hoblink
I've never used HOBlink to connect to one, and there is no mention of TS licensing issues on their site (their KB is down, so couldn't search for it either). But with Winxx clients, TS CALs do behave the way I've described.
and there is NO LICENSE built into that machine it is just using a slot that's available.
and AGAIN, you are looking at TERMINAL SERVICES MANAGER, which shows the state of current TS sessions on the Terminal Server. However, it doesn't have a thing to do with licensing. Look in Terminal Services License Manager instead:
Here's the thinking behind the TS CAL:
* Terminal Services offer a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" to TS clients.
* MS figures that folks NOT running a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" OS (or its successor, Windows XP Professional) need to pay a license (the TS CAL itself) to get the benefits of running that newer, better "desktop," since they HAVEN'T paid for it yet.
* MS figures that folks who ARE running a Windows 2000 Professional "desktop" OS (or its successor, Windows XP Professional) do NOT need to pay a license (the TS CAL itself) to get the benefits of running that newer, better "desktop," since they have ALREADY paid for that particular OS once.
actually TS runs a Windows 2k SERVER desktop not a PROFESSIONAL desktop.
Technically, that is true. But MS has always considered the TS "desktop" to be equivalent to the Professional version of the OS, not the Server version (for issues of TS CAL pricing, etc.)
TS isn't licensing MACHINES it is licensing USERS on the server.
"You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe" :cool:
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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after much pming and deliberation Tall Geese was correct and i was wrong. what a kick in the pants.

wowsers. now i gotta re examine the way i sell this product.
 

Tallgeese

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2001
5,775
1
0
Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
after much pming and deliberation Tall Geese was correct and i was wrong. what a kick in the pants.

wowsers. now i gotta re examine the way i sell this product.
You also need to kick the ASS of the MS rep who explained it wrong.
Which, for everybody tuning in, happens WAY more often than many people realize.

Nothing PISSES me off faster than when reps for a company are CLUELESS about the licensing schemes of their company's own products. :|
Especially with how pissy said companies are about folks getting complaint about their licensing.
My reaction: "How in the CRAP do you expect me to get compliant if you can't even TELL me what compliant licensing IS for your products?"

The I go to the person in charge of that rep, and give them an earful about it. :|
 

reicherb

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2000
2,122
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Wow, I take a day off and I miss all of this.

Hey guys thanks for the help. I think I've got it now, but will try and find a decent MS rep just to make sure.

Thanks.
 

reicherb

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2000
2,122
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Hey guys, can you help me find a site somewhere to get some ballpark pricing? I want to be able to estimate what the cost is here.

I need:
5 CALS
5 TS Licenses
1 TS Server License.

I tried cdw.com, but can't understand the 6 million options they have. Maybe I should just go open-source.

Actually, I'm a primarily a Novell guy and it's pretty simple. You need X license for X number of simultaneous user connections. Where X=X, not where X=Y except in Case W, where A=(B-C+D)/4.

Thanks.
 

reicherb

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2000
2,122
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That worked great. I was able to find the client licenses easily, but they don't seem to have the Server TS license. In fact, I can't seem to find that anywhere. Has anybody seen it listed anywhere lately?

Thanks.
 

Tallgeese

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2001
5,775
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There is no separate "TS Server" license.

When you buy a copy of Windows 2000 Server, what you are calling a "TS Server" license is actually part of that license.

When you install Windows 2000's Terminal Services in Application Server mode, it will tell you that you need to install a License Server (which tracks user CALs) on some server in your network within 90 days or so. Altho that License Server has to be activated (either via the Internet or via phone with MS) it doesn't cost anything. And if you weren't ever goin to have any machines except Windows 200 Pro/Windows XP Pro machines accessing TS, then you don't even need to purchase or install any TS CALs on that License Server.
 

reicherb

Platinum Member
Nov 22, 2000
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Ahh...I think I've finally got it now.

Thanks for the help while it was all sinking in.