Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Standard Edition (Includes Software Assurance)

Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 is a special version of the Microsoft Windows Server operating system that allows multiple users to simultaneously share one computer. Each user station, typically consisting of a monitor, keyboard, and mouse connected to a station hub, provides an independent Microsoft Windows desktop environment. The station hubs connect to the single host computer through USB or video cables and use the host computer's processing capabilities.

Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Standard Edition supports up to 10 simultaneously connected user stations. The host computer also can be used as a station to support one additional user. Organisations that require the ability to  join Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 to an Active Directory domain should request Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Premium Edition.

Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 can be useful for organisations or libraries with computer labs, classrooms, or other collaborative environments where using just one computer for several users can save energy, simplify maintenance, and lower expenses. The ability to share a monitor in splitscreen view between two independent users and to connect older machines as stations over a local area network (LAN) provides further cost- and energy-saving options.

Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 includes MultiPoint Manager, which allows the primary user to monitor and manage Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server user stations. Primary users can create accounts for an unlimited number of standard users, who can access their customized desktop and settings by logging into any station. Primary users also can view full screens of individual users or thumbnail screens of all active users, allowing them to monitor user activity without leaving their station. They can suspend all stations at once or broadcast the desktop of their own or any user's computer to all other connected user stations.

Other capabilities include the following:

Licencing: This product includes a Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Standard Edition server licence. Each user station that connects to Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server must have two types of client access licences (CALs): a Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server CAL and a Microsoft Windows Server CAL. These two CALs, licenced per device (a user station), are available as a single donation through DonorTec (see Related Products below). If the host computer is used as a user station and not just for administration, organisations must acquire both a Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server CAL and a Microsoft Windows Server CAL for it as well.

Individual Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server device CALs are also available through DonorTec for users with valid Microsoft Windows Server CALs. Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server user CALs, as opposed to Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server device CALs, are not available through DonorTec since this kind of licencing would be more costly in a typical Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server setup than licencing per device. For example, a setup with 10 user stations would require just 10 device CALs for any number of users. If licenced per user, the same setup would require each user to have a separate licence.

At the Volume Licencing Service Center, the product key for Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 will be listed as Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2.

64-Bit Only: Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 requires a 64-bit processor with at least two cores. See System Requirements below for more information.

Also available as part of the Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 range:

• Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 Premium Edition
• Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server Device CAL Pack for One Station
• Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server Device CAL