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I am confused whether I need RDS CALs for Win Server 2022

Anonymous
2024-01-18T14:05:10+00:00

I have been running an evaluation copy of Win Server 2022 Standard. Today I decided to proceed to purchase a license. I bought a Win Server 2022 Standard license with 5 CALS from here (https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/d/windows-server-2022-standard-cal/dg7gmgf0d6m5). However, when I try to add my license key into the license manager it says that it is wrong. Clients are unable to connect remotely and they get this error: "The remote session was disconnected because there are no Remote Desktop License Servers available to provide a license."

After doing some reading, I am totally confused about CALs. I thought the product I purchased was enough because it came with 5 CALs but there was only 1 product key which I have used to activate the server. There were no separate product keys for the 5 CALs.

Also, I am confused whether there is another type of CAL (RDS CALs) I need to buy in addition to the standard CALs. Can anyone clarify whether I also need RDS CALs (https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/d/windows-server-remote-desktop-services-cal/dg7gmgf0d7hx?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab) for users to log in remotely to the server?

Microsoft does a poor job of explaining these things.

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Licensing for Azure Virtual Desktop

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-09-20T16:28:25+00:00

    Being that this is a server, I believe you can also opt to install another software running as a service that will allow you to remotely connect to the device. There may be some limitations of control of system settings (Domains, Users, Microsoft account) but for the most part it should work no differently than a desktop computer as long as the service is authorized under admin, and you are remotely logging into the admin account.

    I am sure Microsoft will have security concerns, but this is also relative to if it is the server for a local plumbing company or Discord server compared to a national Health Insurance company or Bank...

    If the company was large enough, and the data requiring security to the point of these concerns, I don't think the $500 to $10,000 would even be any concern.

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