Terminal Server 2003 - TS Mode

[mizzy]

Hi there,

I have a question about terminal server 2003 (TS) and terminal server licensing server 2003 (TSLS).

If the TS points to an active TSLS and the TS is configured for user mode...will the client always receive a temporary license no matter how many times the client contacts the TS.

This is what the documentation seems to be saying. If the TS was in Device mode the client would get the temporary license once and then the second time the client contacts the TS they will only get a license if a device CAL is available.

So in essence if you use TS User mode you get a temporary license permanently! (if you know what I mean). Is this correct?

many thanks

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

Terminal Services Info by Technet

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc786615.aspx

 

[mizzy]

I have read this many times (honestly I have, every bit)...this is the paragraph that does not explain itself and I quote. (This paragraph is repeated many times through out the forementioned documentation)

"When the Per Device licensing mode is used, after a client logs and authenticates to a terminal server for the first time, and after the terminal server locates a license server, the terminal server issues the client a temporary license by default. After a client logs on and authenticates to a terminal server for the second time, if the license server is activated and at least one Per Device CAL is installed on the license server and not yet issued, the terminal server issues the client a permanent, Per Device CAL. Per User CALs are not monitored by Terminal Server. This means that even though there is a Per User CAL in the license server database, the Per User CAL is not decremented when it is used. Additionally, if you use the Per User licensing mode, when a client logs on to a terminal server for the second time, the temporary license is not upgraded to a permanent CAL."

OK so I know what DOES NOT happen to a per user client when it logs on for the second time.......however I'd like to know what DOES happen when a client authenticates itself via a TS configure as per user? Will the client simply get another temporary license (repeated over and over again)? A permanent temporary license if you wish!

Thats all I want to know.

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

Yes, I would have to say that the temp license would be replace each time they log in as long as there are valid Per Device CALS in your Licensing. The reason, i believe and can be proven wrong is, the computer that connects gets a Device CAL even though you are running in perUser mode. Then the server just gives out temp user cals (which does not decrement your per users cals) because the device is already allowed to connect. That device may have many users logging in to it and therefore cause that one device to hand out may per user licenses (wasteful per Microsoft) Now if there are no PerDevice CALs on your server, then that machine is given a temp license that is only valid for 180 days (if memory serves me well). I hope this helps, as there is a whole lot more info on TS licensing that is too much for this posting.

***This is my understanding of the TS license behaviour. Please research further or may there be some other MS experts out there that can even clarify this further***