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Terminal Server

Windows Server™ 2003 Terminal Services is a technology that lets you remotely execute applications on a Windows Server 2003-based server from a wide range of devices over virtually any type of network connection. With the integration of Terminal Services into the core Windows Server 2003 operating system, you can choose to deploy the latest Windows-based applications in a fully server-centric mode, where applications run entirely on the server. When Terminal Services is enabled on Windows Server 2003, administrators do not have to install Windows-based 32-bit applications on each desktop computer. Instead, the application is installed once on the server, and the clients automatically have access to the new or upgraded software package through Terminal Services Client software.

Licensing Requirements
  • A Windows Server 2003 Client Access License (CAL) is required to access Terminal Services as well as other basic network/application services in the Windows Server operating system.
  • A Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services CAL (TS CAL) is required for each user or device to conduct a "Windows Session" in which the server software hosts a graphical user interface on a device.

In summary, if you have enabled the Terminal Services of Windows Server 2003 and are running applications off the server, you need a Windows Server 2003 CAL PLUS a Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services CAL in addition to the required application licenses.

Note: Terminal Services is licensed on a per-seat basis and is not available on a per-server basis with the exception of the Terminal Services External Connector (TSEC) License explained below.

In addition to the TSEC a Windows 2003 Connector license permits any number of authenticated connections from non-employees to a single copy of the server software for which the TSEC license is obtained. This replaces the need for a Terminal Services CAL and Windows Server 2003 CAL to be assigned to a specific device or user. The External Connector license is currently available under the Microsoft Select and Open volume licensing programs.

Customers who acquire a Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server User CAL or External Connector are unable to access previous versions of Windows Server, TS functionality under these licenses because of technical features related to license management found in the previous versions of the software. To address this, Microsoft is adding two rights for customers acquiring these licenses:

  • Terminal Server External Connector - Customers who license the Windows Server 2003 TS External Connector will be able to deploy that license as a Windows 2000 Server TS Internet Connector with Windows 2000 Server in lieu of an External Connector with Windows Server 2003.
  • Terminal Server User CALs - Customers who acquire a Windows Server 2003 TS User CAL will be granted use of a Windows 2000 Server TS Device CAL in addition to the Windows Server 2003 TS User CAL. This Device CAL permits a single device being used exclusively by the user to whom the corresponding Windows Server 2003 TS User CAL has been attributed to access a Windows 2000 Server Terminal Services functionality.

Regarding the first right, please note that if a Windows 2000 TS Internet Connector is deployed in lieu of the External Connector, then Windows 2000 TS Internet Connector use rights apply. For example, upon deployment, customers will not have the rights to authenticate users or have an unlimited number of connections, as with Windows Server 2003 TS External Connectors. In any case, only one connector (External or Internet) may be deployed under a single license. Please consult the appropriate Product Use Rights document to understand the differing rights for Windows 2000 Server Internet Connectors.

Regarding the second right above, Windows 2000 Server TS Device CAL use rights apply when a Windows 2000 Server TS Device CAL is being used under this offer.

The rights described here are documented in the Microsoft Volume Licensing product list for April, 2005.

Please see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/howtobuy/licensing/ts2003.mspx for more information on Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services.