Terminal Server CALs - Per user or per device

[goombawaho]

Not sure how I should set up the terminal server licensing on this newly loaded Server 2003 - per user or per device.

Basically there are around 4 users (not including the ADMINISTRATOR user) that may login remotely via RDP. We have 5 CALs. (SKU R10-00133)

I believe those CALs are configurable as EITHER per user or per device. I just don't know which to choose. The list of users connecting will be fairly constant (four users) but the computers from which they connect might be more variable.

Therefore, I was thinking it would be better to configure using the "per user" licensing model. Advice appreciated.

 

[Roadki11]

Not aware of an either or TS cal, I would make sure you know what you got. It looks to me like you would benefit best from a per user setup.

RoadKi11

"This apparent fear reaction is typical, rather than try to solve technical problems technically, policy solutions are often chosen." - Fred Cohen

 

[goombawaho]

That's what I figured and wasn't sure whether the CALs were either/or.

I can't really tell what the CAL is. It says the following on the license agreement, of which I only have an old paper copy. We cannot login to the EOPEN license page due to having lost the username/password used to register it.

"Windows Terminal Svr CAL 2003 WinNT English OLP NL User CAL"
Version: 2003
SKU: R19-00133

I guess, if you look up that part number, as it shows here:

http://www.microwarehouse.co.uk/catalogue/item/LIMS6116

That is does say USER CAL.

 

[Roadki11]

Looks like per user CALS to me.

RoadKi11

"This apparent fear reaction is typical, rather than try to solve technical problems technically, policy solutions are often chosen." - Fred Cohen

 

[goombawaho]

I was doing more research and apparently, Server 2003 doesn't even assign Per User CALs when users login. In effect, you could have 100 people using TS with 5 licenses and it would never deny a TS login. Thge licenses are never "debited" out of the pool if you look in TS Licensing.

That's pretty stupid on MS part. Apparently the monitoring feature in TS Licensing where you can view the assigned licenses is now fixed in Server 2008, but I just can't hardly believe they left a hole that large for moochers to exploit. Imagine all the bootleg TS users in China.

Note that this company is going to do that (mooch) - they only have 4 people that would ever access TS.