Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Services 2022 - License 5 User CAL

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• Article
• 02/09/2022
• 4 minutes to read

Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016

Each user and device that connects to a Remote Desktop Session host needs a client access license (CAL). You use RD Licensing to install, issue, and track RDS CALs.

When a user or a device connects to an RD Session Host server, the RD Session Host server determines if an RDS CAL is needed. The RD Session Host server then requests an RDS CAL from the Remote Desktop license server. If an appropriate RDS CAL is available from a license server, the RDS CAL is issued to the client, and the client is able to connect to the RD Session Host server and from there to the desktop or apps they're trying to use.

There is a licensing grace period of 120 Days during which no license server is required. Once the grace period ends, clients must have a valid RDS CAL issued by a license server before they can log on to an RD Session Host server.

Use the following information to learn about how client access licensing works in Remote Desktop Services and to deploy and manage your licenses:

Understanding the RDS CAL model

There are two types of RDS CALs:

• RDS Per Device CALs
• RDS Per User CALs

The following table outlines the differences between the two types of CALs:

When you use the Per Device model, a temporary license is issued the first time a device connects to the RD Session Host. The second time that device connects, as long as the license server is activated and there are available RDS CALs, the license server issues a permanent RDS Per Device CAL.

When you use the Per User model, licensing is not enforced and each user is granted a license to connect to an RD Session Host from any number of devices. The license server issues licenses from the available RDS CAL pool or the Over-Used RDS CAL pool. It's your responsibility to ensure that all of your users have a valid license and zero Over-Used CALs—otherwise, you're in violation of the Remote Desktop Services license terms.

An example of where one would use the Per Device model would be in an environment where there are two or more shifts using the same computers to access the RD Session Host(s). The Per User model would be best for environments where users have their own dedicated Windows device to access the RD Session Host(s).

To ensure you are in compliance with the Remote Desktop Services license terms, track the number of RDS Per User CALs used in your organization and be sure to have enough RDS Per User CALs installed on the license server for all of your users.

You can use the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager to track and generate reports on RDS Per User CALs.

RDS CAL version compatibility

The RDS CAL for your users or devices must be compatible with the version of Windows Server that the user or device is connecting to. You can't use RDS CALs for earlier versions to access later versions of Windows Server, but you can use later versions of RDS CALs to access earlier versions of Windows Server. For example, an RDS 2016 CAL or higher is required to connect to a Windows Server 2016 RD Session Host, while an RDS 2012 CAL or higher is required to connect to a Windows Server 2012 R2 RD Session Host.

The following table shows which RDS CAL and RD Session Host versions are compatible with each other.

You must install your RDS CAL on a compatible RD license server. Any RDS license server can host licenses from all previous versions of Remote Desktop Services and the current version of Remote Desktop Services. For example, a Windows Server 2016 RDS license server can host licenses from all previous versions of RDS, while a Windows Server 2012 R2 RDS license server can only host licenses up to Windows Server 2012 R2.

The following table shows which RDS CAL and license server versions are compatible with each other.

Support technology-enabled learning in classrooms and schools with the Microsoft® Windows® Remote Desktop Services 2019 License. With this CAL, up to five users can access a server. This academic license provides server access for file storage or printing, regardless of the number of devices per user. Students and teachers can run applications and desktops from the cloud, which enhances collaboration and learning.

Set up virtual desktops that give users a full desktop experience with a variety of apps. The Windows Remote Desktop Services license delivers the powerful Windows software suite that's useful for both students and teachers. A centralized server management platform simplifies configuration and troubleshooting. In-built GPU virtualization offers improved graphics, while integrated Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) delivers strong data security. A remote desktop connection (RDC) client offers a comprehensive graphical user interface, which includes a Windows operating system desktop. It also provides support for different input devices, such as a keyboard or a mouse.