Windows MultiPoint Server
Screenshot of Windows MultiPoint Server 2012, Desktop showing the MultiPoint Dashboard and About Windows.
DeveloperMicrosoft
Final release2012 (6.3.9600) / October 10, 2023 (2023-10-10)[1][2]
LicenseProprietary commercial software
Official websiteWindows MultiPoint Server (archived at Wayback Machine)

Windows MultiPoint Server is an operating system based on Microsoft Windows Server using Remote Desktop Services technology to host multiple simultaneous independent computing stations or terminals connected to a single computer (multiseat computing). Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 was the final release as an independent SKU and has been superseded by the MultiPoint Services role in Windows Server 2016.

Versions

Windows MultiPoint Server 2010

This version was planned in January 2010 but was released in February 2010 and is based on Windows Server 2008 R2.[3] Its mainstream support ended on July 14, 2015, and extended support ended on July 14, 2020. 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.[4]

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 client access license (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.[5]

Windows MultiPoint Server 2011

Windows MultiPoint Server 2011, based on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, was released to manufacturing on March 10, 2011.[6] Its mainstream support ended on July 12, 2016 and extended support ended on July 13, 2021. New features in Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 include:

  • The ability to add connect stations and thin clients over the LAN via traditional RDP clients
  • Support for RemoteFX capable thin clients
  • A shared management console extensibility with Windows Small Business Server 2011 and Windows Home Server 2011
  • The ability to be backed up by Windows Small Business Server Essentials 2011 (the only server SKU that allows and supports this)[7]
  • Features that allow administrators to view and interact with thumbnails of station desktops, including
    • Projecting a single station's desktop to one or all stations[8]
    • Locking the keyboard and mouse of station and displaying a message
    • Remotely opening and/or closing applications
    • Restricting internet browsing to a specific list of sites or blocking browsing to a specific list of sites
  • Management of multiple WMS servers and stations from within a single administration console
  • Support for running within a virtual machine
  • Distribution through a wider variety of distribution channels for both editions

In addition, unlike Windows MultiPoint Server 2010, Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 is available in the Standard and Premium editions. The following table compares the two editions' differences; they share all other features equally.[5][9][10]

StandardPremiumNotes
Maximum simultaneous stations (licensing limit)1020Hardware limits still apply and Client Access Licenses are required (see below)
Maximum random-access memory (RAM)8 GB32 GBMotherboard limitations still apply
Supported processor sockets12Only x86-64 sockets are supported.
Domain joinNoYesSee also:Active Directory
Hyper-V supportNoYes"1 on 1" licensing model for the Premium edition.
Licensing1 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.

Windows MultiPoint Server 2012

On 27 November 2012, Microsoft released Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 to manufacturing.[11] Its mainstream support ended on October 9, 2018, and extended support ended October 10, 2023. This is the first version of MultiPoint to be based on Windows Server 2012, and contains several new features and upgrades from previous versions:

  • The addition of the MultiPoint Dashboard, an application that allows specific non-administrator users to monitor and interact with user desktops
  • The ability to create stations from virtual machines running on the WMS server Premium - Not available on the Standard version.
  • Disk protection, a server feature that discards changes made to the server during user sessions similar to Windows SteadyState
  • Windows 8 desktop experience for users, including access to the Windows Store
  • Monitoring client computers running Windows 7 or 8 with the MultiPoint Server Connector

Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2016 now includes MultiPoint Services as a role. This includes the ability to deploy a server in a multipoint role. This version was released on 26 September 2016. The MultiPoint Connector services Feature - which is also available in Server 2016 - cannot be installed alongside the MultiPoint Services role.

Windows Server, version 1803

In Windows Server, version 1803, Microsoft is no longer developing the MultiPoint Services role as part of Windows Server. Only the MultiPoint Connector services are available through Feature on Demand for both Windows Server and Windows 10.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "October 10, 2023—KB5031442 (Monthly Rollup)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.
  2. ↑ "October 10, 2023—KB5031427 (Security-only update)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.
  3. ↑ "Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Brings More Affordable Computing for Education". Windowsteamblog.com. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  4. ↑ "Windows MultiPoint: Learn More". Microsoft. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  5. 1 2 "How to Buy | Windows MultiPoint Server 2011". Microsoft. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 has RTM'd!!!". Windows Multipoint Server Team Blog. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 and Interaction with Small Business Server 2011 Essentials". The Official SBS Blog. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "2011 | Windows MultiPoint Server 2011". Microsoft. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "Windows Multi Point 2011 and How it Fits into Your Small Business". SeanDaniel. 6 January 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Did you know this about multipoint server?". Msmvps.com. 6 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  11. ↑ Goddard, Steven (27 November 2012). "Windows MultiPoint Server 2012 released to manufacturing, available for evaluation today!". Technet. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Features removed or planned for replacement starting with Windows Server, version 1803". microsoft.com. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
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