| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 2011 / 21 February 2011 |
| Type | Operating system |
| License | Proprietary commercial software |
| Website | www.microsoft.com/windows/multipoint |
Windows MultiPoint Server is a Windows Server-based product using Remote Desktop Services technology to host multiple simultaneous independent computing stations or terminals connected to a single computer.
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This version was released in February 2010 and is based on Windows Server 2008 R2.[1] Multiple stations can be added to a WMS 2010 host computer by connecting a single monitor, USB 2.0 hub, keyboard and mouse for each station. Hardware requirements for MultiPoint stations are non-proprietary, and virtually any multi-monitor video card, mouse, keyboard and monitor that is supported on Windows Server 2008 R2 can be used to build a station.[2]
Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 is available for purchase via either OEMs or Academic Volume Licensing. The Academic version, acquired via Academic Volume Licensing, supports domain join and no licensing restrictions on station count (however, hardware limits still apply), but requires a Windows Server 2008 R2 CAL and a Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 CAL per station, while the non-Academic version that is acquired via OEMs is limited to 10 stations maximum and does not support domain join, but only requires a Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 CAL per station and no Windows Server 2008 R2 CALs.[3]
Windows MultiPoint Server 2011, based on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, was released to manufacturing on 10 March 2011.[4] New features in Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 include:
In addition, unline Windows MultiPoint Server 2010, Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 has Standard and Premium editions. The following table compares the two editions' differences; they share all other features equally.[3][7][8]
| Standard | Premium | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum simultaneous stations (licensing limit) | 10 | 20 | Hardware limits still apply and Client Access Licenses are required (see below) |
| Maximum Random access memory | 8 GB | 32 GB | Motherboard limitations still apply |
| Supported processor sockets | 1 | 2 | Only x86-64 sockets are supported. |
| Domain join | No | Yes | See also:Active Directory |
| Hyper-V support | No | Yes | "1 on 1" licensing model for the Premium edition. |
| Licensing | 1 OS license per WMS instance, 1 WMS 2011 CAL per station, and for copies purchased through Volume Licensing, 1 Windows Server 2008 CAL per station as well. | All licenses are sold either via OEMs or Volume Licensing. | |
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