Terminal Services functionality in Windows Server 2008 lets you remotely execute
applications on a Windows-based server from a wide range of devices over
virtually any type of network connection. A server running Terminal Services can
be referred to as a Terminal Server (TS). The Windows Server 2008 External
Connector (EC) license is an optional licensing alternative to address a
specific customer scenario. If you would like to allow your business partners or
customers to access your network, you have two licensing options:
- Acquire TS CALs for each of your external users.
- Acquire External Connector (EC) licenses for each instance of the server
software that will be accessed by your external users.
An external user is a person who is not an employee, or similar personnel of the
company or its affiliates, and is not someone to whom you provide hosted
services using the server software. An EC license can be acquired for servers
running Windows Server 2008 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, and Windows Server
2008 for Itanium-Based Systems editions. It is not applicable to Windows Server
2008 Web Server or Windows Small Business Server.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 builds on the success and strengths of its Windows
Server predecessors while delivering valuable new functionality and powerful
improvements to the base operating system. New Web tools, virtualization
technologies, security enhancements, and management utilities help save time,
reduce costs, and provide a solid foundation for your information technology
(IT) infrastructure.
Software Assurance (SA) is Microsoft's maintenance program that provides product
support, software upgrades, and more.