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I have taken delivery of fairly used HP thin clients with model no t5730w.

I am trying to use it set up a computer laboratory for a school in a remote part of Ghana, Africa that I volunteered for.

I am able to connect one device to the host/server I have set up but anytime I connect it via RDP, the Host will have to be locked.

Meanwhile I assumed I will have to create multiple user account on the Host and connect one thin-client to one account. But if the first device locks the host how am I able to connect the rest?

Is there a straight forward way to have this set up and also not lock the terminals?

Is there any form of management software (probably free because I am funding everything out of my own pocket) to make this easy since i will be leaving and have to train someone to manage the set up once I'm not around.

I am fairly familiar with networking and computers but haven't worked with thin-clients before. Honestly the cost of setting this up might have not be that much different from fat-client but I'm concerned about the electricity bills they will have to incur subsequently.

Any help will be appreciated.

thanks, Max

fromPythonImportNoob
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  • `I am able to connect one device to the host/server I have set up but anytime I connect it via RDP, the Host will have to be locked.` Is this "host/server" a Desktop Windows installation by chance, not a Windows Server with terminal server licenses? – Sven May 12 '16 at 11:08
  • Yes, it is a desktop windows installation not a Windows Server with terminal server licenses. – fromPythonImportNoob May 12 '16 at 11:13
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    there's your problem - you only get 1 concurrent user. - Is the school registered? - MS will help you out with this, I urge you to make contact with their academic representatives in Africa, keep up the good work! – Sum1sAdmin May 12 '16 at 11:43
  • Right. I will do just that. Thanks very much for your kind words – fromPythonImportNoob May 12 '16 at 12:07

1 Answers1

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You can't use a Desktop Windows as Terminal Server. It's technical impossible (only one RDP connection is allowed and it will lock the current desktop session) and also prohibited by the license terms.

You need either to get your hand on a legal Windows Server license with enough TS CALs or need to investigate other options like Linux terminals (e.g. LTSP).

Sven
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  • oo ok. That makes a lot of sense and understandable. But is the license for the TS CALS sold separately or it comes with certain levels of the Server license. I am looking into having 20 devices connected max. But can't see what the price will get to by looking at the windows server licensing page from microsoft. https://www.microsoft.com/en/server-cloud/products/windows-server-2012-r2/purchasing.aspx – fromPythonImportNoob May 12 '16 at 11:57
  • In your case, you need to contact either MS or an authorized reseller to get a quote for your actual situation. The very specific use case might play a role in this. – Sven May 12 '16 at 12:01
  • right. Thanks very much. I really appreciate your prompt responses. Good day sir. – fromPythonImportNoob May 12 '16 at 12:06