RDS License Server with 2012 and 2019 CAL Licenses

Question

Hi,

We have an RDS environment with Windows Server 2012 Session Hosts, and a Windows Server 2019 License Server using RDS 2012 CALs. Now, we need to add a new collection with Windows Server 2019 Session Hosts. As far as I know (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license), it shouldn't be a problem to add RDS 2019 CALs to the 2019 License Server, so it would have both the old 2012 and the new 2019 CALs. Is that so?

Also, how would the License Server assign the licenses? As the 2019 CALs are compatible with the 2012 Session Host but not the otherway, is there any way to avoid the chance that the Lincese Server uses the 2019 CALs for 2012 Session Hosts?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

it shouldn't be a problem to add RDS 2019 CALs to the 2019 License Server, so it would have both the old 2012 and the new 2019 CALs. Is that so?

1. Yes, you are correct. The 2019 licensing server can manage both 2012 CALs and 2019 CALs.

is there any way to avoid the chance that the Lincese Server uses the 2019 CALs for 2012 Session Hosts?

2. If there are available 2012 CALs, the licensing server will automatically issue 2012 CALs for the 2012 session hosts. Only if there is no 2012 CALs will it issue the 2019 CALs. So, what you need to do is to make sure there are enough 2012 CALs for 2012 session hosts.

Thanks,

Eleven

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