Adding new licences fail to increase number of connected users

[Sean Moore]

We have a Win2k server running TS in application which has been reliably
supporting 5 users running Office for approximately 12 Months.



Recently we have taken on additional staff who need access via TS therefore
an additional 5 CALs were added.



Unfortunately no additional users (above the 5 existing users) can connect -
the normal "maximum number of connections has been reached" message is
displayed when the sixth session attempts to connect.



Within TS licence manager the existing 5 licences are showing as type "OPEN"
the new licences are displayed as "STANDARD" MS support inform me that there
is no real difference between the 2 from a connectivity point of view yet
cannot offer me any help (unless I cross their palms with silver) as to why
the new licences are not supporting any further connections.



Any help/pointers would be very welcome.

 

[Vera Noest [MVP]]

If it is always the sixth user that is refused (irrespective of
which workstation is used), then you don't have a problem with TS
CALs, but with normal server CALs.
Check your EventLog, it will tell you that "the product Windows
2000 has reached it licensed limit" or something similar.
You need to buy 5 server CALs and add them to the Licensing applet
in Control Panel - Licensing.

Another (but more unlikely) possibility is that someone has
configured a maximum number of rdp connections, in rdp-tcp -
properties.

 

[Sean Moore]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction - apparently the rdp default
is to only allow 5 sessions (or has the IT tech ghost been playing around
again)

Thanks Vera.