Does the Client Need a CAL to Access the FTP Server on Windows Server?

Question

I would like to inquire whether a client needs a Client Access License (CAL), such as an RDS CAL or any other type of CAL, to access an FTP server on a Windows Server.

To provide some context, we are planning to set up an FTP server in a Windows Server environment. The goal is for approximately 60 devices to simultaneously access the FTP server and download files.

Based on my research so far, I understand that since the FTP server allows direct network access for file downloads, no additional licenses may be required. Could you kindly confirm whether clients can access the FTP server and download files simultaneously without needing a license?

Thank you very much for your assistance. I look forward to your response.

Answer 1

Hi @민혁 손,

Could you kindly confirm whether clients can access the FTP server and download files simultaneously without needing a license?

As far as I know, FTP access does not require CALs because FTP is a protocol level service and clients access files via the FTP protocol.

In addition, I think what you need to consider is how to configure the FTP server to guarantee that the clients can access it, and adequate security. Such as firewall settings and authentication for FTP server.

Best Regards,

Xudong Peng

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