Windows Server Licensing

Question

Hello,
I would like to set up a couple of Active Directory domain controllers in a on premises network with 10 Win 10 client and 10 internal users.
In this network I have a 3rd party application which offers AD integration for users authentication (via LDAP proto). Users of this application are around 50 units.

What I would like to ask is how I need to license the 2 DCs in this scenario if I want to authenticate the 50 users through AD as well?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Some general info about windows server licensing

• Each host needs to be licensed.
• A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor and a minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.
• Core licenses are sold in packs of two.
• Standard Edition provides rights for up to 2 Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed. For each additional 1 or 2 VMs, all the physical cores in the server must be licensed again.
• DataCenter Edition provides rights for unlimited Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed.

Some general info about windows server Cals
A Windows Server CAL is a license that grants access Windows Server. CALs are used in conjunction with Microsoft Windows Server OS licenses to allow Users and/or Devices to access and utilize the services of that windows server

• User CALs allow a single user access to Windows Server from an unlimited number of devices
• Device CALs allow an unlimited number of users to access Windows Server from a single device

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Answer 2

Thank you for your time.
Apart from the definitions, I was looking for some more specific advice on depicted scenario.
Whether application users authenticating against AD should be provided with users CAL or if a per device CAL for the server hosting the application was enough.

I understand this is not the place where to find this answer.
Will ask MS directly via the link you provided.
Thanks again.