1

Good day all,

I need to create the following environment:

Install Server 2022

Setup VPN for external users

Install Quickbooks (with multiple user lic)

Let five external users connect via VPN to the server simultaneously, each having their own “desktop/profile” and use it as if they are logging onto their own remote “PC”

My question is: What Windows Server 2022 package and or any licenses/CALS/version do I need to have each user have their own “PC/Desktop/Profile” simultaneously?

@Microsoft

6 Spice ups
2

Sounds to me like you will need the following on the Windows licencing side:

Windows Server 2022 License: You’ll need to purchase a license for Windows Server 2022. You can choose from various editions based on your requirements, such as Standard or Datacenter. Standard edition should suffice for most small to medium-sized businesses.

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) CALs: In addition to the Windows Server license, you’ll need Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs) for each user who will be accessing the server remotely. RDS CALs allow users to connect to a Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) server (which is a role within Windows Server) to access desktops and applications.

3 Spice ups
3

RDS is what you want.

4

Note that Windows licenses are NOT concurrent user. They are per person (per human).

You need Windows User CALs and Remote Desktop User CALS, as well as properly licensing Windows Server Standard.

5

If you’ve already purchased a datacenter license I think you can setup a separate instance of 2022 for each user and avoid the RDS licensing.

6

No. You would still need RDS licenses as RDP access to Windows Server requires RDP CAL unless it is administrator access. Running QuickBooks wouldn’t count as administrator access, even though the RD Session Host role may not be needed or installed.

Microsoft won’t prevent that from running, but it would be in violation of the license.

If you don’t want to pay for RDP CALs, use Windows 11, which would bring it’s own different licensing and operational issues.

3 Spice ups
7

QuickBooks may also have licensing implications if you needed to install it X number of times.

If this was going to be the fix though, either put desktops in the office and install it locally for external users to RDP to, or install it on their remote machines.

8

Thank you for all the feedback so far. A few details: We are ok with the Quickbooks licensing. I am prepared to purchase any type of MS licensing.

I just want the exact licenses I need to set this up (I’m also good with the technical aspects of the setups) just want exact clarity of the type of server version and the cals/licenses I need to let the users VPN in, log onto the server simultaneously, each with their own profile as if they are logging onto a remote machine (but all working on the server on their own instances simultaneously)

So far I have the following that we need to purchase:

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter

Windows Server 2022 Remote Desktop Services 50 User CAL

Will this be sufficient?

@ethanharris @kevinhsieh @joeledwards

9

Are you setting this up as a VM on an already licenced Server Datacenter Hypervisor?

As far as I understand the licences, if you already have a fully licenced 2022 Datacenter HyperV host system then you can use the same licence for the guest VM’s running on the same physical host. RDS CAL’s will still be needed for your terminal server VM of course as @kevinhsieh pointed out.

If it’s an entirely new/standalone host system then all the licences will be needed, including the minimum of 16-core licences for the 2022 Standard or Datacenter editions, if your CPU core count is greater you’ll need more, but 16-cores is the minimum licensable amount

10

You do not need datacentre edition, unless you need multiple VMs or clustering features, I believe the number is more than 13 total VMs.

If you intend to go physical, standard will do, if you go virtual and have only 1-2 VMs and use Hyper-V server (2019 or earlier) or another hypervisor, then standard will also do.

11

You don’t need Datacenter unless you’re planning lots of VMs, and so far I am hearing 1 VM, maybe 2. Purchase Windows 2022 Standard. Deploy on a server that has 16 or fewer physical CPU cores. If your hardware has more cores, you will need additional licensing for the additional cores.

You need Windows User CALs. You left those off of your license BOM.

You need RDS CALs, but not 50 unless you have 50 different humans that will connect. CALs can be purchased individually, so no need to buy 50 when you need 5.

12

Thank you kindly for all the answers so far!! It is great to be part of this helpful community.

As a secondary question, will this server suffice:

HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 Plus v2 Server - Intel Pentium Gold G6405

(If not - could someone suggest hardware in the same price region? -The client is on a tight budget)

Again, I cannot say thank you enough!

@rod-it @kevinhsieh @joeledwards

13

Probably not, it has it’s limitations and using it as a lab or a DC might be it.

If the client is on a tight budget, perhaps telling us their goal would be more useful.

We don’t know how many users or what applications, but one, low-end server with multiple, somewhat heavy office users will not fit the bill.

That CPU has only 2 real cores, so you would be really pushing it to have multiple people use it.

14

Do you mind providing a cite for this Kevin? Not necessarily for the OP, just for my own curiosity.

15

No.

You asked for " as if they are logging onto their own remote “PC”" but the responses so far actually cover remote desktop session on a shared server.

If you want them each to have their own virtual PC then you also need 5 VMs of windows desktop OS (e.g. windows 11) and VDA licenses.
Windows server CALs also required as I assume some services will be consumed from the server.

But the shared terminal server RDS solution should work fine for using this APP.