70-410 - My basic questions - many to follow

Stuppored

Windows Server 2012 Essentians - maximum of 25 users. Does that mean that only 25 user accounts can be joined to a domain including the domain administrator account? Does this also limit the number of users that can connect to for example a shared directory or printer? Please explain

Asif Dasl

OK first things first, licensing makes me want to jump out of a window. But the administrator account is included in the server license, then the CALs are extra depending on user or device CALs. That will limit number of users accessing a folder share as will using a client PC for a folder share (limit of 10 users IIRC). EBS is Essential Business Server which was half-way between Small Business Server and full Server edition what 2012 Essentials is now.. so it should be the Admin + 25 CALs is the limit.

Microsoft wrote:

Windows EBS automatically licenses the following objects by default, and they do not require a CAL:

• Domain administrator account Windows EBS assigns a preinstalled CAL to the built-in Administrator account on the Management Server. If the Administrator account is disabled or you use a different account for domain administration, you must assign a CAL to the account that you use for domain administration. You must use a licensed domain-administrator account to add computers to the domain.
• Servers Windows EBS assigns a built-in license to each server in the domain, including the Management Server, Security Server, and Messaging Server. Any user in the domain can log on to the network from a server.

And I'll leave you with a couple of links that might help you:

Using Windows Server 2012 Essentials with more than 25 users - The Windows Server Essentials and Small Business Server Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
Microsoft Volume Licensing - Client Access License (CAL) Guide
Assign Client Access Licenses
About Client Access Licenses in Windows Essential Business Server
View Client Access License Assignments

Microsoft Volume Licensing Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs