Microsoft SBS 2008 - Terminal Services CALs

The description of SBS 2008 states "Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes premium CALs that provide the same access as the regular CALs and also provide access to the second server running LOB applications, SQL Server, and optionally Terminal Services."

Does this mean that the SBS CALs cover Terminal Services connections to the second server, and that NO separate Terminal Services CALs are required?

Thanks,

Hal

SBS is limited to one terminal services connection (at least in SBS 2003) so you would need a Terminal Services Server and the number of CALs for the number of Sessions you will be running.

Dave

Thanks, Dave.

My question refers to the discription of SBS 2008.

SBS 2008 comes with a license for an additional server which can be a Terminal Services Server.

SBS 2008 says its "premium" CALs provides access to the second server also.

Does this mean that its "premium" CALs are Terminal Server CALs for the second server?

Hal

That's an excellent question, Hal.  I read on TechSoup that the software  can be used for Terminal Services.

TechSoup:

Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes an additional copy of Windows Server 2008 to optionally run on a second hardware server supporting line-of-business (LOB) applications, and this edition can now also be used for Terminal Services access to applications.

However, I believe that was referring to the Windows Server 2008 Standard license that is given for the second piece of hardware in the SBS 2008 Premium.  I think that means that since it is a full version of Windows Server 2008, instead of a reduced set of functionality in Windows Server 2008 Technologies on the first server, then you could technically use it for Terminal Services.

However, nowhere in the description of SBS 2008 Premium Server or the Device/User CAL descriptions do I see any mention of it granting you access to Terminal Services.  Nor did I ever see Terminal Services mentioned in the list of features on the Microsoft site for SBS 2008.  Microsoft also says the Line of Business second hardware server is a full version of Windows Server 2008 Standard.

So, in SBS 2003, Standard or Premium, in order to use Terminal Services, you had to install a separate member server and buy a full version of Windows Server 2003 and Terminal Server licenses.  I think the only benefit of SBS 2008 Premium is that you have the full version of windows already installed on a second piece of hardware, so its not necessary to purchase these additional licenses - except ther CALs for Terminal Server.

It's an educated guess on my part that you'll still need to purchase Terminal Server licenses for your devices if you get SBS 2008 Premium Edition.

The quick answer, based on my reading of Microsofts's Licensing FAQ on SBS 2008, is that you DO need to purchase TS licenses.  Like shipley.c wrote, the second copy of Server 2008 you get with premium can be used for a Terminal Server, but premium licenses are NOT TS licenses.

Q.  Does the Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL allow me to access Windows Server 2008 connected to the Windows Small Business Server 2008 domain?

A.  

Yes. Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL Suite and Windows Small Business Server 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users or Devices can be used to access any Windows Server 2008 that is in the Windows Small Business Server 2008 domain. Note however, if you are using the Terminal Services or Rights Management Services functionality found in Windows Server 2008, you must acquire separate Terminal Services CALs or Rights Management Services CALs in order to be compliant with your license.

http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/licensing-faq.aspx

 

Very nice find, acray :)

i just purchased SBS 2008 PREMIUM and installed it hoping I could allow my team of web programmers to Remote Desktop (or TS) into the box to use a team version-control software. 

Just when we were ready to get started, I realized that the box only allows 2 concurrent connections into the box. 

I thought I had 5, and it's why I bought the darn thing. 

I'm not a server person, but technical enough to grasp new technologies.  However, this whole SBS feels like a big disappointment and instructions that came with the box seems like one big trick. 

Can someone enlighten me?  Perhaps I'm completely missing an install or a procedure. 

Much thanks!

 

When you purchase SBS 2008 you actually get two licenses.  One for the SBS 2008 running on one computer ( this is the SBS package which includes Windows Server 2008, Exchange, WSUS, Hyper-V, and other stuff) and also a license for a 2nd Windows Server 2008 that can run on an additional computer.

The main SBS computer's Client Access Licenses (CALs)- (in your case 5 ) can be used to access that computer locally, or to access it remotely using a feature called Remote Web Workplace (RWW). This is not terminal services.

If you install the Server 2008 license on a second computer and join it to the SBS domain, then you can install Terminal Services and the Terminal Services license manager on that second server.  At that point you have to purchase Terminal Services CALs (TS CALs) and install them into the license manager.  These are NOT the same as the server CALs that came with SBS 2008.

Terminal Services presents a remote desktop to each licensed user or device when they log in.  Remote Web Workplace allows each user to control and use his workstation remotely just as if he was sitting at his desk.

I suggest buying the "Windows Small Business Server 2008 Administrator's Companion" by Russel and Crawford for additional understanding of SBS.  Its not hard to use SBS, but you do need to learn some server technologies which can be more easily grasped by reading rather by trying to figure it out.

Hal 

 

Ditto on what Hal said.  It is a bit confusing - the good news is that you may be able to purchase through TechSoup again July 1 - or if not you still qualify for regular CHARITY pricing.  You want the users to use the Server 2008 Standard with Terminal Services on it - not the SBS 2008 server.  How much hardware do you have?  You might be able to set up SBS 2008 Premium with virtual machine technology (this is the Hyper-V license Hal was talking about).  [ Here is a link to the Microsoft documentation ] on virtual machines and SBS 2008.  I recommend reading it all.