3 Simultaneous Remote Connections To a Server

[farquea]

We have recently installed an app management server where all IT staff can log on and have 1 centralised place where all software and tools are available. However there are 3 members of staff here who will need to be logged on all day.

 

As i understand windows only allows by default 2 simultaneous connections. To have 3 or more does it mean i have to install the Terminal Server role and then purchase a CAL or CALs for these connections, would it be 3 (one for each of us) or just 1 extra?

[jamesfed]

What 'app management' software are you using?

If its something like System Centre you may find that you can install the client management software on your technicians PCs that way you wouldnt need to RDP into the server.

[Dos_Box]

Indeed. Is it terminal services you are using or just a client interface such as a webmin?

[farquea]

its nothing specific, but rather than having AD, and exchange tools installed on our desktop PCs we just decided that if we bundled everything onto one server that it would make things a lot easier espeically for the new member of staff who is starting as previously we would jump from server to server to access certain things, now most things, and eveyrthing the new technician will need can all be accessed from this 1 server.

[farquea]

and yep just RDP'ing onto it.

[jamesfed]

its nothing specific, but rather than having AD, and exchange tools installed on our desktop PCs we just decided that if we bundled everything onto one server that it would make things a lot easier espeically for the new member of staff who is starting as previously we would jump from server to server to access certain things, now most things, and eveyrthing the new technician will need can all be accessed from this 1 server.

 

Would something like Remote Server Admin tools work here?

You can create custom management consoles which you can use to bring together multiple Windows Server controls like Active Directory, GPOs, DHCP - it can connect to multiple servers at the same time as well if you have things well distributed.

[carvjo]

VNC.. there are various flavours - each with their own merits UltaVNC looked OK last time I used it..

[ajbritton]

VNC.. there are various flavours - each with their own merits UltaVNC looked OK last time I used it..

I suspsect the OP wants 3 independant remote sessions rather than 3 users fighting to remote control a single session.

 

We have this arrangement where I work (all management tools installed on terminal servers) and it works. Having said that, it's far from an optimal experience for the user. I don't know the ins and outs of terminal server licensing, but it may be as simple as installing the terminal server role and buying a handful of licences. How much is a TS CAL (sorry, Remote Desktop CAL) anyway? A couple of £££s?

[carvjo]

I suspsect the OP wants 3 independant remote sessions rather than 3 users fighting to remote control a single session.

 

We have this arrangement where I work (all management tools installed on terminal servers) and it works. Having said that, it's far from an optimal experience for the user. I don't know the ins and outs of terminal server licensing, but it may be as simple as installing the terminal server role and buying a handful of licences. How much is a TS CAL (sorry, Remote Desktop CAL) anyway? A couple of £££s?

 

Yes - that makes sense - silly me! - There is a 120 day trial period after installing TS before the licences must be applied - so it would be possible to test this without spending any money.. If you have a Schools 3 or similar, your licencing agent should be able to get TS CALS for a few pound each on an annual licence, or a few tens of pounds to buy them.

[farquea]

the question is am i buying 1 extra remote desktop cal or 3, 1 for all 3 of us? I HATE MS licensing with a passion, its so unclear most of the time.

[ChrisH]

You should be able to have 2 connections normally eg

mstsc -v:server

 

and squeeze in a third using

 

mstsc -console -v:server

[farquea]

You should be able to have 2 connections normally eg

mstsc -v:server

 

and squeeze in a third using

 

mstsc -console -v:server

 

I thought about this yesterday but can only get 2 on even using your command and the one i found on google yesterday of mstsc -v:server -console and i think i read somewhere that you could no longer do it but that may of been something else.

 

Can you get 3 logons on a server using the console command out of interest?

[ChrisH]

I thought about this yesterday but can only get 2 on even using your command and the one i found on google yesterday of mstsc -v:server -console and i think i read somewhere that you could no longer do it but that may of been something else.

 

Can you get 3 logons on a server using the console command out of interest?

 

I thought I could. I will check tomorrow. My colleague always seems to have 2 sessions open! So I always use -console. This option is the same as logging on locally.

[farquea]

I thought I could. I will check tomorrow. My colleague always seems to have 2 sessions open! So I always use -console. This option is the same as logging on locally.

 

humm yeah i know cos i can go next door and log on in the server room but just cant get it to work through mstsc. maybe its down to newer versions of mstsc or because im on windows7 maybe? i dunno.

[ChrisH]

Mine are currently XP to 2003.

[farquea]

No more MSTSC.exe /CONSOLE | microsoftNOW

 

might explain it. mstsc -v:server /admin works though.

[ajbritton]

Just buy the licences!! Explain to the boss that this will let you do management tasks from anywhere in the building and this will vastly improve efficiency. You are also gaining experience with setting up a TS which might be very useful in the future. It will also save you time when you need to roll out new or updated tools. I also think I'm right in saying that you need to be a server admin. to log on remotely when not in TS mode. That's not ideal. I'm assuming of course that you don't go around logging in with Domain Admin accounts all the time.....

[MatthewL]

We do very similar have around 10 of us techies working on one box that allows us access to all our different networks.