Per server licenses (how many users?)

[JimPletcher]

I just "inherited" a Windows 2003 server with per-server licensing. The client wants to add several more users/PCs to the domain.
How can I tell how many licenses were purchased for the server.
License logging service is NOT running, and I don't want to start it unless I have to.

Any suggestins?

 

[markdmac]

The license logging service is normally useless. What is important is to look at the physical CALs you have, check the certificates to see what you have.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[JimPletcher]

That would be too easy.
This client hasn't the faintest idea where the software and/or licenses would be (if they ever had any).

Isn't there somewhere on the server I could find this - possibly even in the registry?

 

[markdmac]

No, Microsoft really doesn't care about it fromt he server side since anybody can crank up those values.

The true proof is in the paperwork. If they can't find any licenses or proof that they purchased some then legally they are pirating and should purchase licenses. In most cases per seat is less costly.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[NickFerrar]

Yeah you won't find anything on the server itself of much use, best bet it tracking down invoices (either for licences themselves or for the server if the server was bough with an OEM licence).

 

[JimPletcher]

Thanks guys!
You saved me a lot of time.

 

[1LUV1T]

Our company purchased 15 user licenses for our Windows 2003 server (which acts as a terminal server). We realized that we're going to need 15 more, so we purchased that from our 3rd party. When I go to Terminal Server Licensing I still see "Windows Server 2003 - Terminal Server Per User CAL Token" 15 total, and 15 available yet I have about 25 users logged in right now. Sometimes though users complain that they cant connect because there's not enough licenses. So what's going on, where is the real license information?

 

[Roadki11]

AOConsulting, TS licensing in per user mode does not track issued licenses. if you ran TS in per device mode and had per device cals you would see them being consumed. this is one of Microsofts little nuances.

RoadKi11

 

[markdmac]

TS licensing is a completely different animal than Windows CALs.

Where you don't need to setup licensing for Windows CALs or Exchange CALs you absolutely MUST install and setup TS licensing which is a different tool.

With TS licensing, the CALs get taken by the client machines and are assigned to that machine. The licensing is NOT concurent users. So a user with a laptop that uses TS and then later connects fromtheir home PC using TS will be taking up 2 licenses. So, you can't go by the number of people currently on.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[markdmac]

Looks like RoadKi11 and I were posting at the same time.

As pointed out Per User mode will not give you the problems you are seeing, but since that is a new licenseing model very few people have purchased those CALs or setup their servers that way.

As stated above I believe your problem is the CALs are used up by multiple machines for the same individuals.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript