Windows 2008 RDP - 1 user at a time

Question

We have a 2008 Server SP1. We're only able to RDP one at a time, if a 2nd user RDP's in the first user gets disconnected. How do we allow for multiple sessions to be connected at the same time? Do we need to install TS?

Answer 1

In order to have more than 2 users at one time on one Windows Server 2008 server using Remote Desktop Services, you must install the Remote Desktop Services role, and purchase the appropriate licensing.

The behavior you're describing occurs when you have USERACCOUNTA and multiple users try to log on to the server as USERACCOUNTA - by default Remote Desktop on 2008 and later allow for one session/account. This includes the console session, BTW. To get around this you uncheck the "restrict each user to a single session" check box in Remote Desktop Session Host Configuration (instructions from Microsoft here).

Answer 2

In addition to Paul's answer you can allow two user's to connect to your Windows 2008 (and Windows 2008 R2) server at the same time by unchecking the "Restrict each user to a single session" setting in the Terminal Services configuration MMC:

To get there using the UI do:

Control Panel -> 
    Administrative Tools -> 
        Terminal Services -> 
            Terminal Services Configuration

Once upon a time (up to Windows 2003 Server) you could have three separate sessions but sadly Microsoft decided two was plenty for Windows 2008 onwards.

Answer 3

You can change the default behavior to allow multiple sessions.

1. Start regedit
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer
3. If the fSingleSessionPerUser value doesn’t exist, create a new DWORD value named fSingleSessionPerUser
4. Open the fSingleSessionPerUser value. The possible values for this setting are as follows: 0×0 Allow multiple sessions per user 0×1 Force each user to a single session

Answer 4

Check to see that your users aren't connecting to the console. That will cause the second user to bump the other one off. Otherwise you should be able to have two logged in at the same time via rdp.