CAL for Windows Server 2019 Datacenter

Question

I created an instance on EC2 of the AWS and verified that only two users can connect remotely on the server, so I installed the services related to the remote connection and verified I have 120 days to use, after that I should buy a license CAL, but I have some doubts related my necessities because I need only three users connected on server. I'd like help to buy my license and to understand how it works, for example, if I need to recreate this instance with a new Windows installation, how I'll to proceed to use the same license.

Answer 1

Hi,

There are two types of CAL for RDS —— Per User and Per Device. If all your three users will use the same client device to connect to the server. You can purchase the per device cal. But if these three users use different devices to connect to the server, you should purchase 3 per user cal for all of them. Once per-user cals are issued, you can track the information under the user's properities in AD.

And you will need to install RD licensing role and activate the licensing server to install the purchased cals and to issue the cals for users.

For your reference:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-activate-license-server
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-install-cals
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-track-cals

if I need to recreate this instance with a new Windows installation, how I'll to proceed to use the same license.

If your Windows versions are different, you only need to purchase CALs supporting the highest version (like server 2019) and then the CALs will be able to support for all previous Windows versions (2016, 2012, 2008..). Once the cal is issued to the user or device, it will support the user or device to remote connect to all the servers with 2019 or previous versions. And your RD licensing server should also be windows 2019 so that it can issue 2019 CALs.

Please refer to below RDS CAL version compatibility
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/14988.rds-and-ts-cal-interoperability-matrix.aspx

Hope the information can help you.

Thanks,
Eleven

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Answer 2

You can read on here about licensing you deployment.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license

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