User CAL or RDP CAL?

Question

User CAL or RDP CAL?

Akshar Jamgaonkar 1

We have a Windows 2012 R2 Server and would like to have more than 2 users access the server using Remote Desktop Service at the same time. Do we need to buy 3 User CAL + 3 RDP CAL or will just 3 User CAL be sufficient. Any help not his would be really great, thanks.

Anonymous

2021-03-25T13:07:23.783+00:00

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2 answers

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Anonymous

2021-03-25T13:07:23.783+00:00

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

Answer 1

Anonymous

You'll need the RDP Cals as well.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license

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Akshar Jamgaonkar 1 Reputation point

2021-03-23T20:20:57.09+00:00

Many Thanks @Anonymous for your reply.

Can you please confirm i will need 3 User Cals and 3 RDP Calls, so 6 CALS?

I also checked online and found this link https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-server-remote-desktop-services-cal/dg7gmgf0dvsv?atc=true

but here i only see Device CAL or User CAL no RDP CAL, where can i purchase it online?
Anonymous

2021-03-23T20:24:58.323+00:00

You can purchase the Cals here.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-server-remote-desktop-services-cal/dg7gmgf0dvsv

As to the legal licensing question, better to reach out to either a reseller's trained licensing specialist or ask microsoft directly.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/existing-customer/activation-centers

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Akshar Jamgaonkar 1 Reputation point

2021-03-23T20:30:31.857+00:00

Thanks @Anonymous sorry for reply.

I am still confused the link says "Windows Server Remote Desktop Services CAL" so these are RDP CAL's. where can I purchase the User CAL's, as i would need User and RDP CAL's, correct?

Or will it be sufficient to just purchase "Windows Server Remote Desktop Services CAL"

Thanks.
Anonymous

2021-03-23T20:34:35.97+00:00

You can chat online with sales here.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-server-2019-standard-cal/dg7gmgf0dvss?activetab=pivot:overviewtab&atc=true

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Answer 2

Anonymous

Hi AksharJamgaonkar.

You could only purchase 3 User CAL's for every user who accesses the server to use services such as file storage or printing, regardless of the number of devices they use for that access.

Each user and device that connects to a Remote Desktop Session host needs a client access license (CAL). There is a licensing grace period of 180 days during which no license server is required. Once the grace period ends, clients must have a valid RDS CAL issued by a license server before they can log on to an RD Session Host server.

So you definitely need 3 User CAL's.

Akshar Jamgaonkar 1 Reputation point

2021-03-24T09:07:21.247+00:00

Hi anonymous user thanks for your reply.

for my understanding, i need to purchase 3 User Cals and before the Grace period ends purchase 3 more RDP CAL.

Is this correct?
Anonymous

2021-03-24T09:40:14.707+00:00

Hi AksharJamgaonkar.

Actually, there are two types of RDS CALs: RDS Per Device CALs and RDS Per User CALs.

Therefore you just only need 3 User CALs in the future.
Akshar Jamgaonkar 1 Reputation point

2021-03-24T10:51:34.677+00:00

@Yijing Sun-MSFT thanks for your reply.

so for my understanding, i only need to purchase from here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-server-remote-desktop-services-cal/DG7GMGF0DVSV/000N?atc=true 5 User CALs and that should be sufficient to allow 3 simultaneous users to login.

Correct?
Anonymous

2021-03-24T11:45:06.903+00:00

Hi AksharJamgaonkar.

That's almost correct, but not quite.

RDS Per User CALs are assigned to a user in Active Directory.
It could be up to five users connected to the RD Session Host concurrent after you purchased 5 User CALs.
It means five users have permissions to access the RD Session Hosts.

Best Regards

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User CAL or RDP CAL?

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