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Theo
Asked: 2009-06-11 10:01:35 +0800 CST

How do I increase the maximum number of concurrent remote connections in Windows Server 2003?

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I am trying to allow more than the default of 2 concurrent remote connections to a server running Windows Server 2003.

Background:

I went to "Start" => "Administration Tools" => "Terminal Services Configuration"

I opened up the "Properties" of "RDP-tcp" in the connections tree and selected the "Network Adapter" tab:

  • "Unlimited connections" is grayed out
  • In "Maximum connections" I can change the value to "1" using the arrows
  • However, I can not increase the value above "2" with the arrows
  • I typed in 4 and clicked apply. But the value did not stick.

Is this a licensing issue? If not, how do I allow more than 2 remote session?

remote-desktop windows-server-2003 remote-access windows-terminal-services

5 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    This is a licensing issue. W/o purchasing Terminal Services CALs you're limited just as you've seen to two (2) RDP connections.

    (You can sort of cheat and get one more session, BTW, by using the "/admin" or "/console" switch on the Terminal Services client.)

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  2. You get 2 remote administration connections and a console connection, and that's it. There is no way to override this limit (that I've ever seen at least).

    If you want more than the 2 connections, you need to get a license for Terminal Service CALs. Then you can do as many as you have licensed.

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  3. It looks like you want to use the server as remote desktop server for allowing people to using the applications on the server rather than just managing it. If so, you need to turn on Terminal Service from Add/Remove program first. And before you allow people to log in, you need to purchase and set up TS License server.

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  4. In administrator tools the terminal services configuration option has the power to do this. Open this application and expand the connection. Right click on RDP - TCP, and then open properties of that connection. On the network adaptor tab click on unlimited connection. Then apply and OK. Open Run and type gpupdate and press enter.

    That's all.

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  5. why do you need more than 2 ? If it's because people doesn't logoff, you can set TS to logoff people when they are disconnected for too long & co, even through GPO is many servers.

    Going further than 2 mean license and change the server to a TS application server, why may not be what you want.

    Else you can also try a TS challenger: go-global from graphon. It doesn't use the Terminal server layer.

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