Activate the Remote Desktop Services license

Question

Hello,
One of our customers is using Windows 2008, and they are planning to purchase a Remote Desktop Services license, yet they are also planning to upgrade their servers and install a fresh copy of Windows 2016 in 2021. Can they use the same Remote Desktop Services license they purchased for Windows 2008 or buy a new license to reactiviate the service in windows 2016?

Answer 1

Hi,

If you purchase RDS 2008 CAL, it can only support windows 2008 session host server. You will need to buy new licensing to support windows 2016.

If you purchase RDS 2016 CAL, it can support both 2008 and 2016 servers. But you must ensure the licensing server managing the RDS CAL is 2016 server or above version.

Please refer to below article about RDS client access licenses.

License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs)
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license

Thanks,
Eleven

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