Terminal server license for Windows server 2003

[Tushar Kale]

I bought ML330 G3 couple of years ago with Windows Server 2003. I never setup the terminal server when I started using the system.

Now I have a need to use the terminal server for remote login. While setting up the license server, it is asking for a license key. How can I get this license key? If I remember correctly, the Windows server 2003 came with 5 CAL but I could not locate any document that came with the server that has the license key information.

Any help will be appreciated.

[Paul Taylor]

Terminal Services uses separate Licenses from Windows Server.

So you need to buy Terminal Server licenses to cover the amount of concurrent remote users you are going to have.
I have just gone through this !.

PS: If your using a Windows 2000 Server active directory, you cannot use Server 2003 Terminal Services, since it is incompatible.
I found that out too !!. damn microsoft...

[Simon Haslam · Accepted solution]

Hi Tushar

Windows Server 2003 (like XP) has a built-in licence for 2 remote login sessions for admin purposes - no key is required to log in this way.

If you want to set up the server as a Terminal Server you need additional CALs (either user-based or device-based). Windows Server comes with 5 CALs but they are for regular client connections only (e.g. by a PC). To run Terminal Services you need to set up an MS licence server somewhere on your network and install the separate MS licence on it. Note: the terminal server user/device licences have to be renewed every two years.

Hope this helps,

Simon

[Tushar Kale]

Thank you both for your prompt help.
~Tushar

[Hugo Tigre]

Hi,

One more thing, if you buy the licenses now, they will come as terminal services licenses for windows 2008, but that is no problem since they are compatible.

Every client, even if it is a Linux client, needs to have a client license and terminal services client license.

Note that Windows 2008 offers a lot of advantages in terminal services, especially when it comes to printers, since it comes with the option to create a proxy for printers allowing you to use any printer on the client side without the need to install printer drivers in the server. The price of windows 2008 and windows 2003, including it's licenses are the same.

regards,
hugo tigre