So I need a copy of Windows Server 2000. This software advertises generally with 5-Client licenses. What exactly counts as a used license here? I have 10-15 people who need to able to access a shared portion of this computers hard drive. Does each user connected to a shared folder in this instance count as a license?

Hopefully Dzervit is lurking round....

 

I believe each individual user (client) counts as one license. So once 5 different people (clients) have connected to the server, there goes the 5 licenses.

You can use license manager to revoke user licenses in order to free some up to make room for different users, but that would start to be a kludge situation.

 

You might also want to look at per-server licensing vs. per seat licensing..although I really don't understand when to use one over the other.

 

Yea, right now we're running 2000 Professional on the server and it allows 10 people. I wish there were a way just to up those licenses. Maybe there is.... off I go.

 

If your using win2K professional as a server, yeah, there is a built in limit of ten connections max...Microsoft way of forcing you to buy a server operating system.

With 2k server, even if you only have the 5 licenses, it will still allow tons of different connections. You'll just start getting event log errors about max license limits.

 

CALs aren't that expensive....like $30 a seat....just buy the Win2000 and purchase the extra CALs.

Tracking licenses in MS is a real pain. No IT guy I know has figured out a real easy way to track it....lots of CYA.