How to upgrade RDS Cals from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Server 2016

Question

Hi,

We are planning to upgrade all RDS servers from 2012 R2 to Windows server 2016. During our implementation phase, we would like to keep RDS server 2012 R2 untouched and have a new set of servers on the windows server 2016.

Currently, on server 2012 R2 licensing server we have 415 Cals. Can I re-use 100 Cals from server 2012 into server 2016 and get server 2016 RDSH work?

Please advise what do you think the best way.

Answer 1

Hi,
Usually we could not do this upgrade.
If you have software agreement with MS，as long as you have the rights to 2016 CALS . You can not use 2012 CALs with 2016 though. You'll need to just make sure you own the rights to the 2016 license.
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.
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.
Hope this helps and please help to accept as Answer if the response is useful.
Best Regards,
Carl

Answer 2

The 2012 R2 RDS Cals are not going to work in a Server 2016 environment. Hopefully you have software assurance.
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/70eb9175-64b0-4d2a-a741-e50caa3a48cb/upgrade-2012-rds-cals-to-2016-rds-cals?forum=winserverTS

--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--