RDS CALs Version question

Question

Dear Microsoft,

I used to have RDS CALs per device on my Windows Server 2008 R2 terminal server.

Now I want to buy new ones and want them to be PER USER.

When I contacted the seller in my country, he told me they only have:

**DG7GMGF0D7HX:0009	Windows Server 2022 Remote Desktop Services - 1 User CAL,       Commercial	       $145,00**	  

And he told me that Windows Server 2022 CALs can't be installed on Windows Server 2008 R2, but only on 2022,2019 and 2016..

I am confused, since how I understood from Microsoft page, newer CAL licenses are compatible with almost all older servers. Which is true? I wouldn't want to spend 5000$ on licenses that I won't be able to use. Thanks!

Answer 1

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.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds-client-access-license

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Answer 2

Basically, I can not install 2022 CALs on my Windows Server 2008, if I got it right, the only option would then be to install a 2022 server, establish terminal server on it and then buy new cals?