How many remote connections can be made in windows server 2008. I want to work with 2 my friends on a same machine. But windows server 2008 forces, second user to logout when 3rd user try to login.
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I've added the additional text from your other question and voted to close the other one as the duplicate.– squillmanNov 3, 2009 at 15:43
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3 Answers
Just two if running the default "admin mode" for terminal services.
You can stretch it a couple ways, neither considered "legit" though...
1) Install VNC server and have third user use VNC client to connect.
2) Use the /admin switch with your RDP client to have the third user get the console.
Just for suggesting those I'll probably have black helicopters over my house later today...
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A lot of people won't suggest VNC because if someone connects to the console to install an app(some will require this) they'll be contending with the VNC user.– sclarsonNov 3, 2009 at 17:17
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Yes, we tend to exclusively use either RDP or VNC (depending on the server) for that reason.– RainyRatNov 3, 2009 at 21:34
It sounds like by remote connections, you mean remote desktop. In this case, Remote Desktop in Administration mode is limited to 2 connections at a time. Should you want to use more than this, then you will need Application mode, which requires you to have a Terminal Services Licence server and a Client Access Licence for each user who wishes to connect to it, which cost money.
An unsupported work around to get 3 connections is to connect to the console, the actual view you get if you were to sit in front of the server and connect a monitor and keyboard. Using this method is not a fantastic idea as it will log off anyone who is actually accessing the server at the console. Should you wish to use this method the command to do so is:
mstsc /v addressOfServer /admin
Without using terminal services and a license server I believe you're limited to 2 simultaneous users connecting to your server. To get a third connection you need to use the console session which can be connected to by starting the rdp client from run with:
mstsc /console (pre version 6, works with server 2003 not 2008)
mstsc /v addressOfServer /admin (post version 6, server 2008)
You could use hyper-v or windows virtual server and each have your own instance to play with, or you could setup/buy the proper licensing to have all 3 of you connected at the same time. Although having 3 people connected to a server isn't the best idea if you're all going to be installing software possibly at the same time anyway.
If you're students I would recommend the virtual server for each of you approach and look into getting licensing for it for free at www.dreamspark.com
Edit: After reading Sam's Answer and looking into it a bit more it looks like VNC is possibly the only way to connect to the console session on 2008. I haven't tried myself to verify it, but the impression I received from the technet blogs is that the new /admin flag will connect you to an administrative session but not necessarily the console.
http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2008/01/04/mstsc-exe-no-more-console-switch-in-rdc-6-1.aspx
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The console switch has been replaced by /admin in the new versions of the RDP client (6.0 or later) Nov 3, 2009 at 17:27
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I think its actually 6.1 or later (6.0 still had it with both working). I also think that it stops working with anything later than 2003/XP. The "session 0" cannot be connected to in vista/win7/server 2008. Trying to find more on that since I don't have much for Server 2008 servers created yet.– sclarsonNov 3, 2009 at 18:04
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