Need help with Windows 2016 CALs for users and RDS

[kevindrew]

We are setting up a Windows 2016 server for around 10 computers locally and access for 4 users via RDS to QuickBooks Enterprise in another city. We have 10 user CALs and 5 RDS CALs. I’m saying we need another 4 CALs for the remote users, but we’d like to know: Can a user remote into the server using and RDS license without being a domain member?

Thanks!

[Denis-Kelley]

You also need user CALs for those external users if they are not part of the 10.

[kevindrew]

Thanks, I thought so. I guess the follow up question is: We will have 10 device CALS, Can we then add 5 user CALs for the remote users - and do we need to add their computers to the domain or do they just log in remotely?

[Denis-Kelley]

CALs are about licensing, but they will need access to your server so you can either set them up on your domain or possibly as local users. You might be able to control that by just letting them connect to an app, rather than a full desktop. But that wasn’t really your question, since I’d have more questions before answering.

[theborgman77]

Just get this in your head. There is no Microsoft licensing that is concurrent. It is all physical device or physical person.