Which RDS CALs 2019 licence is best for me?

Windows Server operating system licences allow the operating system to run on the purchaser's physical server only. It does not provide legal rights for users or devices to connect to it.

To access the server and use specific services, users or devices need separate licences.

A User-CAL gives you a licence to access the server. You can connect from multiple endpoints as the CAL is linked to you, not the device. A Device-CAL licences the endpoint device to access the server. Individuals using this device do not require a User-CAL.

Which one suits my business?

The choice depends on whether you have more employees or more devices, and the working environment, such as if employees connect from outside the company or from a single location.

For example:

• If you have fewer employees than devices, choose User-CAL, or if your workspace requires connecting from multiple devices to the server, this is your best option.
• If you have fewer devices than users, choose Device-CAL, or if your employees are in one location but share devices across different schedules, this would be the ideal choice.

RDS CALs User Licence

With the RDS CALs user licence, licensing is not enforced, and each user can connect to a Remote Desktop Session Host from any number of devices. The licensing server allocates licences from the available RDS CAL pool or the overused RDS CAL pool. It is your responsibility to ensure all users have valid licences and no overused CALs, or you will breach Remote Desktop Services licensing terms.

For most businesses, the RDS CALs user licence is the most cost-effective, as employees often access servers from multiple devices. For instance, an employee might check emails on a desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile during the week. A single RDS CALs user licence covers that employee, whereas per device, you'd need 4 RDS CALs device licences for the four devices.

RDS CALs Device Licence

Under the per-device model, a temporary licence is issued the first time a device connects to the Remote Desktop Session Host. On the second connection, if the licensing server is activated and RDS CALs are available, the licensing server issues a permanent RDS device CAL.

The RDS CALs Device Licence suits scenarios with many employees using a limited number of computers. Examples include: a kiosk in a shopping centre with part-time staff throughout the week, a maintenance team sharing a PC to clock in or out, or a 24/7 business with day and night shifts using the same computers.