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RDS/RDP Licensing Issue

We have an SBS 2008 Standard (NOT R2) Server and would like to implement RDS/RDP access for remote users. We also have a 2003 Server (Enterprise Edition) which currently provides file storage for the network and we'd intended to use it to run Terminal Services. We've purchased "Windows Server 2008 RDS license packs", but find these are R2 licenses which aren't compatible with w/ SBS 2008 (Std) server. Contacted both vendor and Microsoft and find ONLY Windows Server 2008 R2 licenses are available (i.e, No 2003 or 2008 (prior to R2) licenses are available from Microsoft.

The alternatives provided by MS are: a) purchase the SBS Premium Add-On; b) purchase Windows Server 2008 license to run terminal service.

I've looking for viable alternatives to the two suggested above and hopefully ones that avoid additional purchases (i.e, use what we currently ahve in place).....Thanks in Advance

TroyHrehirchuk

Two option both require spending money unfortunately. First option upgrade your SBS to the dedicated license packs that you have ( not economical). Purchase the 2008 server license use that as your RDP connection server to leverage the SBS server offerings until you grow large enough to be able to bring in the full 2008 server environment. What ever you chose is going to cost money there is no two ways about it. You cannot use the existing packs that you have because they are for different version. One other option if you speak with the Microsoft clearing house you might be able to downgrade your license pack or split it up to provide your 2003 server with the licenses and use that as your rdp server. Just throwing out possibility's for you is all. If it were me I would get rid of the SBS server and start breaking off into perhaps a VM environment.

Regards,
th

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Lee W, MVP

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ullman

ASKER

Thanks Leew; A well thought our response and presentation. I'd already been in discussion w/ Microsoft relative to downgrade rights and the Hyper-V option seems doable. Again, thanks for your response.