Win 2003 Terminal Server Licensing
Dear Experts!
I have a total of 3 sites, which have a total of 3 Windows 2003 Standard servers, and a total of 40 users. Each of the servers has Terminal Services set-up on them, and all of the 40 users need to be able to connect to 3 of the servers.
I need to purchase TS licenses, but was wondering if i need to purchase 40 TS licenses per EACH server, or can somehow set it up so that the 3 servers could share a total of 40 TS licenses (and allow 40 people to log-in to each one of these servers). I have heard that I can set-up 1 "Licensing TS Server", but not sure if that will help me.
Do i need to buy only 40 TS Licenses, or 3 x 40 = 120 TS Licenses?
Please advise.
Thanks in advance!
I have a total of 3 sites, which have a total of 3 Windows 2003 Standard servers, and a total of 40 users. Each of the servers has Terminal Services set-up on them, and all of the 40 users need to be able to connect to 3 of the servers.
I need to purchase TS licenses, but was wondering if i need to purchase 40 TS licenses per EACH server, or can somehow set it up so that the 3 servers could share a total of 40 TS licenses (and allow 40 people to log-in to each one of these servers). I have heard that I can set-up 1 "Licensing TS Server", but not sure if that will help me.
Do i need to buy only 40 TS Licenses, or 3 x 40 = 120 TS Licenses?
Please advise.
Thanks in advance!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Hmmmm, I think a TS License Server can only server one Forest at a time.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc738708(v=ws.10).aspx
Enterprise license server
You can only install an Enterprise license server on a domain controller or a member server in a domain, not on a stand-alone server. This role is published to Active Directory.
An Enterprise license server is an appropriate choice if your network includes several domains, and if you want to maintain one license server that can issue licenses to terminal servers across the different domains. An Enterprise license server can serve terminal servers in any domain, but the domain must be a Windows Server 2003 domain or Windows 2000 Active Directory domain. An Enterprise license server is automatically discovered by any terminal server that is in the same site as the license server. By default, an Enterprise license server only serves terminal servers in the same site.
There is nothing stated about multi-forest support. In your case, it would seem you will need a TS License Server for each Forest.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc738708(v=ws.10).aspx
Enterprise license server
You can only install an Enterprise license server on a domain controller or a member server in a domain, not on a stand-alone server. This role is published to Active Directory.
An Enterprise license server is an appropriate choice if your network includes several domains, and if you want to maintain one license server that can issue licenses to terminal servers across the different domains. An Enterprise license server can serve terminal servers in any domain, but the domain must be a Windows Server 2003 domain or Windows 2000 Active Directory domain. An Enterprise license server is automatically discovered by any terminal server that is in the same site as the license server. By default, an Enterprise license server only serves terminal servers in the same site.
There is nothing stated about multi-forest support. In your case, it would seem you will need a TS License Server for each Forest.
ASKER
Just to clarify - the 3 servers are not connected and each is a DC with its own separate domain.
Does this mean that i need to connect them together if i want to use 1 TS Licensing Server? If so, how would i join them without having to demote the DC? Would some sort of Trusts work?
Thank You
Does this mean that i need to connect them together if i want to use 1 TS Licensing Server? If so, how would i join them without having to demote the DC? Would some sort of Trusts work?
Thank You
Didn't you say each was in its own Forest? If that is the case, then you will need 3 TS License Servers.
If each Domain is in the same (i.e. one) Forest, then you only need one TS License Server.
If each Domain is in the same (i.e. one) Forest, then you only need one TS License Server.
ASKER
Currently, each server is its own DC with different domain names.
Could we connect them together so that we can only have 1 TS Licensing Server? (without having to demote the DC servers and re-adding all of the workstatiosn).
Sorry for all the questions... this i my weak area.
Could we connect them together so that we can only have 1 TS Licensing Server? (without having to demote the DC servers and re-adding all of the workstatiosn).
Sorry for all the questions... this i my weak area.
Are they in one or three forests?
ASKER
They were never connected, so I assume we have three forest.
Then you will need three license servers.
On 2nd thought, all you have to do is test it and see if it works cross forest. I doubt it but it is worth a test.
ASKER
Provided good solutions but not what I was looking for.
ASKER
Currently, the 3 servers can reach each other on the network, however, they're not part of the same Forest/Domain, and each server has its own domain.
For your suggestion to work, do i need to connect the servers together into the Forest and/or set-up trusts?