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I have a Windows Server 2008 R2 running and I am able to connect to it using 2 different users via Remote Desktop Connection. Since a colleague and me are working on the server almost all the time and another colleague also wants to connect there is always the need to disconnect one user which is bad.

Is there a possibility to increase the number of allowed users? On another server there are more than 2 users allowed. What is different there?

Michael S.
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2 Answers2

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This is a licensing issue:

  • When remote desktop is used only to administer the server, no additional licenses are required but the number of simultaneous connections is limited to two.
  • When remote desktop is used to do normal business work on the server (eg running LOB application) or when more than 2 simultaneous connections is required, you need to buy additional Remote Desktop Services Client Access License either for each user that is accessing the server or for each device that is used to access the server (whichever option is cheaper or more comfortable for you)

See this TechNet article for details about RDS licensing. There's also a more detailed document available.

MBu
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You need to install the RD Session Host role service. Then you can change the number of connections in the Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration under Connections/Properties/Network Adapter tab/Maximum connections. There is a Technet article describing this and also a second way to do it with a group policy.

Werner Henze
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  • Thank you for the link. I disabled the "Limit number of connections" option in the "Local Group Policy Editor". This still allows only 2 connections. Maybe I have to change the mode? –  Nov 08 '13 at 10:38
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    @gentlesea Did you also install the RD Session Host role service? – Werner Henze Nov 08 '13 at 10:41
  • I found this: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc742813.aspx. This has to be done, correct? –  Nov 08 '13 at 10:51
  • I just did this. Restart is pending... –  Nov 08 '13 at 10:51
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    Now you need to purchase RDS CAL's and install an RDS License server. – joeqwerty Nov 08 '13 at 15:45