SBS 2003 hiding a disk

[Dai]

I'm about to add a new sata drive to a proliant server which will be used for on-site backups plus various work-in-progress files.
Is there any way I can make that whole disk private to the admin accounts? Ideally I'd like the user accounts to not even see that the drive exists.

[MovedGoalPosts]

Unless you setup a share on the disk it wouldn't be visible to anyone connecting to the server via the network. The disk will be seen by anyone physically logging onto the server.

If you do need to share parts of the disk over the network, the security permissions from the active directory can be set so that unapproved users wouldn't be able to access the share. That I would have thought is sufficient.

[Dai]

My thanks for that Rob.

And don't forget you can make those shares hidden by placing a $ at the end of the share name.

[Dai]

Ah yes, that's worth noting too. Still, it looks like my fears were unfounded from the trials I've done so far.

If I could digress from the original question a bit, I've another server noob question now to do with CALs.

By default the system comes with 5 CALs. Does this mean that the server will actually refuse to accept more than 5 domain users logged in? I'm not clear on whether this is (simply) a licensing issue or if it actually affects the number of connections allowed.

I believe that's the case - it's x concurrent connections - when no#6 attempts to connect it'll be refused - and check the event log of licensing errors.

[Dai]

Originally Posted by LSainsbury

I believe that's the case - it's x concurrent connections - when no#6 attempts to connect it'll be refused - and check the event log of licensing errors.

As it looks like we're about to add users 6 & 7 I'll advise my client to buy another CAL pack pronto..

Thx.

[berkut]

All that happens when you exceed the 5 CAL's is you get frequent event log entries moaning about not having enough licenses.

short term the additional machines will connect with no issues while the CAL pack is being purchased, delivered and installed...

not advisable to run in this condition for any length of time as you can only get not get fined if audited for licenses is if you have a valid order being processed for delivery for the additional CAL's.

the CAL packs (OEM) are only £204 ex VAT for SBS 2003 and £234 ex VAT for SBS 2003 R2 respectively.

far better than the fines they are handing out

[Dai]

Thanks for the detailed reply Berkut.
New CALs are ordered, so I guess we're in the clear.