Simultaneous connections

[Modex]

Hi All,

I wonder if someone can help me please, or point me to any information that may help.

I look after a small company that has always used Workgroups using a "Windows 2000 Professional" machine as the "server", file repositry etc.

The problem is now the company has just taken on some more staff, taking the total to 15 people.

It is my understanding that w2k Pro only allows 10 simulaneous connections to any one machine.

What Id like to know is what are the implications.

Would a user for instance have to disconnect a share in his explorer to allow another user in.

or is it only when they are directly accessing the machine for data or printing.

I would be very grateful for any help in this matter

Cheers

ModeX

 

[zaznet]

When a user maps a share, they are using the license. They would have to disconnect the map and "un use" the shared space to free up the license. Most of the time a log off from the workstation they use or removing the mapping will do all you need.

It's possible to use some active synchronizing to allow users to make access to one of 2 servers.

OldServer talks to NewServer, both are using 1 license to talk to each other. You now have 18 licenses you can use. 2 are used by you the admin to manage each server (2000 workstation). That leaves you with your 15, plus a spare.

It will take some work to manage the users this way, but it is possible. You can also look into using a SAN for the storage device that is shared by each of the two workstations and this will help make the job very easy. A SAN is not going to be cheap though.

Best thing to do is check around for anyone re-selling a 20 user license copy of Windows 2000 Server or even NT Server 4.0 if you are real desperate to save money.

In your situation I would press the company to go with a license, spend some extra money now, one time and get it set up right.

Nathan aka: zaz (zaznet)
zaz@zaz.net

http://www.zaz.net/