When you have multiple users all logging on to your SimpleCloud at the same time, they all need to use the resources included in your subscription. If your subscription plan does not provide enough resources, then users can access additional computers at extra cost (charged per hour). By setting up a simultaneous session limit, you can put a limit on the amount of extra charges you will pay. 


Options and Security settings for a workstation profile. There are settings for internet access, studio licenses, simultaneous sessions, and auto-logout after inactive session.

The limit you set is the maximum number of simultaneous logins that are permitted for a workstation profile. If the limit is reached, any further login requests are rejected. 


When you set it, you should consider:

  • How many computers your workstation profile has access to
  • How many people need to access the computers in your subscription at the same time
  • Your limit for paying for logins outside the scope of your subscription.

The example below will help you understand how you can use the simultaneous sessions limit.


You can set the simultaneous session limit when you Create a workstation profile or Edit a workstation profile.


Example of simultaneous sessions


To show you how the simultaneous sessions limit works, we have created a relatively simple example. We will first show you what can happen if there are no simultaneous session limits in place. Then we will show you how the limits let you control how much access you want to provide outside of your subscription plan.


Let's say your SimpleCloud plan provides access to two X200 series computers and four X400 series computers. This means you can have six users connecting at the same time on your subscription, one user per computer:

  • 2 users can use the X200 series
  • 4 users on the X400 series                                                                                        

If any additional users need to log on, they can, but it will be at an extra hourly cost.


Your team consists of three departments, each with different requirements. So for each department, you create a workstation profile. 


Workstation profileSoftwareHas access toSimultaneous session limit
Team WSP1Office, Maya, NukeX200 onlyNot set. Unlimited.
Team WSP23DMax, UnityX200 and X400Not set. Unlimited.
Team WSP3UnrealX200 and X400Not set. Unlimited.

 

At the start of the day, various members of your team log in and start work. They are logged in as follows:

  • Lucía is in Team WSP1 and is logged in to an X200
  • Hugo is in Team WSP3 and is logged in to an X400
  • Pablo is in Team WSP3 and is logged in to an X400
  • Sofía is in Team WSP3 and is logged in to an X400
  • Paula is in Team WSP2 and is logged in to an X200

At this point, both of your X200 computers are in use and you have one X400 available.


Martín is a member of Team WSP1 and tries to log in. If there are no limits in place, he can log in to an X200, but this is going to be an additional hourly cost, as your subscription only provides two X200 computers and both are already in use. As more users try to connect, there will be further costs. 


With the simultaneous sessions feature, you can put a limit on the number of simultaneous sessions for a workstation profile. Once that limit is reached, no further logins are allowed.


To make use of the limits, you set up your work profiles like this:

Workstation profileSoftwareHas access toSimultaneous session limit
Team WSP1Office, Maya, NukeX200 only2
Team WSP23DMax, UnityX200 and X4004
Team WSP3UnrealX200 and X4004


At the start of the day, various members of your team log in and start work. They are logged in as follows:

  • Lucía is in Team WSP1 and is logged in to an X200
  • Hugo is in Team WSP3 and is logged in to an X400
  • Pablo is in Team WSP3 and is logged in to an X400
  • Sofía is in Team WSP3 and is logged in to an X400
  • Paula is in Team WSP2 and is logged in to an X200

At this point, both of your X200 computers are in use and you have one X400 available.


Martín is a member of Team WSP1 and logs in. As both of your subscription X200s are in use and your simultaneous session limit is 2, Martín cannot log in. 


If you changed the simultaneous session limit to 3, he would be able to log in, but you would be charged at an hourly rate. This is because you have 2 X200 computers included in your subscription, and Martín's log in would exceed that limit, but still be below the simultaneous session limit of 3.If another member of Team WSP1 tried to log on as well, they would be denied access, as your subscription computers are in use and the simultaneous session limit is reached.