Terminal Services Licensing

[LonnusMaximus]

Can anyone explain to me exactly how this works?? I know a 2000 or XP client has a license and nothing has to be bought for them. NT4, 98, ME, etc... must purchase a license.

But what about on the server end? Is it unlimited? Or set by the seats purchased in the first place? (i.e... if you have a Windows 2000 Server with 20 client licenses and have 10 clients on the LAN, you have 10 left for terminal services users?)

Been looking for the answer to this on the net and just couldn't find it.

Thanks ahead.

 

[ericlp]

After you select the Terminal Services check box and click Next, a configuration wizard, which Figure 2, page 44, shows, is launched and asks which mode of operation you want to configure: remote administration mode or application server mode. Unless you intend to license the server to run applications for users, select remote administration mode. Doing so configures the server to support two administrative remote client sessions without additional licensing requirements. Furthermore, this selection configures Terminal Services to minimize its impact on the server's performance.

The skinny is... You can run 2 terminal service connections with purchasing ts licese...

But if you plan to have more then 2 connections running on your server then you MUST BUY additional license...

The only other catch here is. You can only have XP or 2000 logging into TS with out buying additional licese...

If you are going to use TS to connect up to your server so you don't have to run your ass back in the server room to apply a patch.... Don't use the 2000 TS, Try to find the XP TS! It's much better. You can map out local drives and printers. It's sweet!

 

[LonnusMaximus]

Yeah, I already did most of that, but still confused about your MUST BUY and Don't have to buy for 2000 and XP.

This Server was installed a long time ago, I just started maintianing it now.

So if all of the clients are Windows 2000 (about 5), I don't have to buy anything in application mode, right?

And can 2000 clients to an XP TS do the local mapping easily? Might talk them into just upgrading the server if so. 2003 server though probably.

 

[Tallgeese]

Workstations running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP PROFESSIONAL are considered to already be licensed when your Terminal Services License Server checks them.

Any other desktop OS from MS requires a TS CAL, which is then loaded to the License Server.
The License Server assigns TS CALs to machines as needed.
TS CALS ARE ASSIGNED PER MACHINE, NOT PER USER! (VERY important concept to keep straight)

BTW: A TS CAL is COMPLETELY different from the regular Windows Server CAL, which covers other services such as file and print services.
BTW2: ALL machines must have a Server CAL (either in per seat or per server mode) purchased for them.