The rds version of windows server 2008r2 and 2016 are hardwired into each platform and are pretty different from each other in terms of functionalities and performance.
Windows server cal vs rds cal.
There is a third type of cal that we must talk about remote desktop service rds cals.
They can access it from as many.
Like other cals cal suites can be licensed on either a per user or per device basis.
With the user cal you purchase a cal for every user who accesses the server to use services such as file storage or printing regardless of the number of devices they use for that access.
As we explained in our rdp introduction blog rds is tied to a windows server version.
Rds cals cannot be tracked within a workgroup.
Rds cals cannot be overallocated.
Do i need user cals devic.
As such we renamed the cal.
Rds cals are tracked by the license server.
Cal suites simplify licensing and tracking by reducing the number of licenses that are necessary to access microsoft servers.
Temporary rds cals are not available.
Which is the right one.
Rds cals can be overallocated in breach of the remote desktop licensing agreement.
A user cal licenses the person so they have permission to access the server.
Equivalence of windows server 2008 ts cal windows server 2008 rds cal last year we changed the name of terminal services to remote desktop services in windows server 2008 r2.
Temporary rds cals are valid for 52 89 days.
Rds cals can be tracked regardless of active directory membership.
You cannot revoke any rds cals.
You may notice the cal is called a windows server 2008 rds cal rather than 2008 r2 cal.
A client access license cal suite is a single license that provides use rights that are equivalent to multiple licenses.
Rds cals are required for users or devices that want to utilize remote desktop service functionality on windows server.
When one of their server products is licensed using the server cal model then you have to buy a server license to install the software on the server and you have to buy cals for the people or machines that will access that server.
Comparison for rds cals for windows server 2016 not upwards compatible.
Regular user or device cals are required in addition to the rds user or rds device cals.