How Do I Configure Multi-User Logins for an ECS Running Windows Server 2012?

Scenarios

This section uses an ECS running Windows Server 2012 as an example to describe how to enable concurrent logins by multiple users.

An ECS running Windows Server 2012, by default, allows concurrent logins by two users. To allow the logins by more users, configure the remote desktop session host and remote desktop licensing.

Precautions

Ensure that the ECS bandwidth resources are sufficient to prevent ECS freezing or login exceptions caused by heavy loads.
The port for logging in to the ECS must have been enabled in the inbound direction of the security group to which the ECS belongs. By default, port 3389 is used.
The target ECS already has an EIP bound.
After multi-user logins are configured, different users can log in to the ECS without affecting each other.
The configuration in this section enables concurrent logins by multiple users or multiple concurrent logins using one account. A remote desktop license is valid for only 120 days. After the license expires, multi-user logins will be unavailable. For instructions about how to activate Remote Desktop Licensing, see How Do I Apply for a License for Authenticating Multi-User Sessions and Activate an ECS?.
A remote desktop license is valid for only 120 days. After the license expires, multi-user logins will be unavailable. In this case, delete the remote desktop service. For details, see Why Does the System Display No Remote Desktop License Servers Available to Provide a License When I Log In to a Windows ECS?
After multi-user logins are configured on a Windows ECS, the browser may fail to be opened by multiple users. For details about how to handle the problem, see Why Does a Browser Launch Error Occur in Multi-User Login?.

Procedure

Configuring Remote Desktop Session Host and Remote Desktop Licensing
Enabling Multi-User Logins
Adding a New User to the Remote Desktop Users Group

Configuring Remote Desktop Session Host and Remote Desktop Licensing

Log in to the Windows ECS.
On the OS, click to open Server Manager. Click Add roles and features.
Figure 1 Adding roles and features
Retain default settings and click Next. On the displayed installation page, select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next.
Figure 2 Selecting an installation type

Choose Server Selection, select Select a server from the server pool, and click Next.
Choose Server Roles, select Remote Desktop Services, and click Next.
Figure 3 Selecting Remote Desktop Services
On the Features page, retain default settings and click Next twice.
Figure 4 Features
On the Role Services page, select Remote Desktop Session Host and Remote Desktop Licensing. In the displayed dialog box, click Add Features and then Next.
Figure 5 Adding features

Figure 6 Selecting Remote Desktop Licensing
Confirm installation selections and click Install.
Figure 7 Confirming installation selections

Figure 8 Installation progress
After the installation is complete, restart the ECS.
Figure 9 Restarting the ECS

Enabling Multi-User Logins

In the Run dialog box, enter gpedit.msc and click OK to start Local Group Policy Editor.
Figure 10 gpedit.msc
Choose Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Connections. Configure Allow user to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services, Limit number of connections (based on site requirements), and Restrict Remote Desktop Services users to a single Remote Desktop Services session.
Figure 11 Configuring Connections
Right-click Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services and choose Edit. Then, set the status to Enabled.
Figure 12 Allowing users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services
Set Limit number of connections to Enabled and set the number based on site requirements.
Figure 13 Setting limit number of connections
Set Restrict Remote Desktop Services users to a single Remote Desktop Services session to Enabled or Disabled as required. In this example, Enabled is selected.
- Enabled: allows concurrent logins by multiple users but not using the same account.
  For example, users A, B, and C can concurrently log in to an ECS using account A, B, and C, respectively. However, users A, B, and C cannot use the same account to log in to the ECS.
- Disabled: allows multiple users to concurrently log in to an ECS using one account.
  For example, users A, B, and C can use the same account to concurrently log in to an ECS.
  Figure 14 Restricting Remote Desktop Services users to a single Remote Desktop Services session
Run cmd and then gpupdate /force to forcibly start Local Group Policy Editor and restart the ECS.

Adding a New User to the Remote Desktop Users Group

After enabling multi-user login, add new users to the remote desktop users group. This section describes how to create a user and add the user to remote desktop users group.

Open the Run dialog box, enter lusrmgr.msc, and click OK to open Local Users and Groups.
Figure 15 Local Users and Groups
Select Users, right-click the blank area, and choose New User from the shortcut menu.
Figure 16 Adding a new user
Set user information and click Create.
Figure 17 Setting user information
Select Groups, double-click Remote Desktop Users, and click Add.
Figure 18 Remote Desktop Users Properties
In the Select Users dialog box, click Advanced.
Figure 19 Selecting users (Advanced)

Click Find Now, select the user for remote login in the search results, and click OK.
Figure 20 Selecting users (Find Now)

Figure 21 Adding a user
Click OK to add the user to the Remote Desktop Users group.
Figure 22 Confirming user information