Disable "Force disconnect of this user" option on RDP

Question

Hi... I have 2 new Windows 2019 servers where there are few users added to Local Administrators group. The servers allow 2 users to RDP to it simultaneously, however when a 3rd user attempt to RDP to the server, the user is given option to "Force disconnect of this user" and the 3rd user eventually able to kick off one of the active user.

I would like to disable this option. Is there a way to disable this option? Or is there a way avoid this situation?

I also have few Windows 2008 R2 servers in the same environment but for that server, when a third user attempt to RDP to it, it gave a message that says "The terminal server has exceeded the maximum number of allowed connections." .

Is it possible to configure the same behavior for Windows 2019 server? Possibly through Group Policy?

Appreciate if anyone could advise on this matter.

Answer 1

Hi,

I have done some lab tests and share the results as below:

1. If your Windows 2019 Server do not install Remote Desktop Services (RD Session host role), there is no way to disable the option "Force disconnect of this user".
2. If your Windows 2019 server is remote desktop session host server without RDS CALs issued to users, you can set below group policy to get the message "The terminal server has exceeded the maximum number of allowed connections" before RDS grace period (120 days). But after the grace period, the RDP connection will use admin mode, it will still give the option "Force disconnect of this user" when the 3rd user to RDP the server.
   Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Connections - Limit number of connections

We always recommend you to install RDS CALs so that users can remote connect to the server simultaneously. But you can first install RD Session host role and configure the group policy during the grace period to achieve your requirement. After that, you can consider if you need to install RDS CALs.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license

Thanks,
Eleven

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