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Good afternoon,

This question has been asked many many times and I just want to make sure I got it right.

I have a w2k16 with RDS installed. Im using this to deploy 1 specific application to be used by the finance team (3 people). My understanding is for it to work and be in compliance I would need to buy the following

  • 3x RDS User CAL
  • 3x Server User CAL

Can anyone confirm this to me? Microsoft licensing is a pain in the b***.

3 Spice ups
2

The RDS CAL part is correct. The Server CAL part may or may not be - Windows Server CALs are for the entire pool of servers in your organization. If the 3 users are already covered with existing Server 2016 CALs (they would be if you’re running Server 2016 on any of your other servers, since you should have Server 2016 CALs for those). If not, you’d need them as well.

That does not cover licensing for your application. You’d want to verify with the vendor if it can be used in an RDS environment and how it needs to be licensed.

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3

If you aren’t using Active Directory you must use Device CALs for RDS. Thought I’d point it out since your statement of possibly needing Server CALs might indicate you aren’t using AD as you should already have Server Cals for your users.

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4

BGM got it right. You need Server CALs, but if you already have them you don’t need to buy them again. And, yes, for anyone doing non-admin work that’s going to use RDP / RemoteApp on your Server, you need RDS CALs.

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5

Ok sounds like it would just be 3 RDS User CAL then. To be clearer I only have 1 w2k16 server total in the environment servicing both AD and RDS. The finance application is usable in RDS environment and is licensed so.

The users will access the RemoteApp through http://serverIP/rdweb from their Mac (I know… Mac)

So in this scenario, are we talking just 3 RDS User CAL or do I need the Server CAL as well (I have NO idea what those are for)

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If anyone access the Server, a Server CAL is needed. It’s only one per network, though, not one per Server.

So if these 3 users already have Server 2016 CALs, you don’t need them again. If they do NOT have Server 2016 CALs, you need them.

2 Spice ups