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RDS Server Licensing Guide

Remote Desktop Services or RDS Server Licensing is required by each user and device who wants to connect to an RDS Session host. It needs a CAL license, and if a viable RDS CAL is available from a license server, it gets issued to the client, who can further connect. And from there, it gets connected to the desktop or apps they are trying to use. In this comparison chart, we have compiled the versions of RDS in a compiled version for you to determine which will suit your organizational needs best.

Remote Desktop Services 2022

Windows Server 2022 Edition Licensing Model CAL Requirements*
Datacenter Core-Based Windows Server CAL Shop Now
Standard Core-Based Windows Server CAL Shop Now
Essentials Specialty Servers (server license) No CAL Required Shop Now

Remote Desktop Services 2019

Editions Licensing Model CAL Requirements*
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter Core-Based Windows Server CAL Shop Now
Windows Server 2019 Standard Core-Based Windows Server CAL Shop Now
Windows Server 2019 Essentials Specialty Server No CAL Required Shop Now
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2019 N/A N/A Shop Now

Remote Desktop Services 2016

Editions Licensing Model CAL Requirements*
Datacenter Core-Based Windows Server CAL Shop Now
Standard Core-Based Windows Server CAL Shop Now
Essentials Specialty server No CAL Required Shop Now

Remote Desktop Services 2012

Attributes RDS 2012 CAL RDS 2016 CAL RDS 2019 CAL
2012 license server Yes No No
2016 license server yes Yes No
2019 license server Yes Yes Yes

Remote Desktop Services 2008

Attributes RDS 2008 and earlier CAL RDS 2012 CAL RDS 2016 CAL
2008 license server No No No
2012 license server No No Yes
2016 license server No yes Yes