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 |
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Standard |
Core-Based |
Windows Server CAL |
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Essentials |
Specialty Servers (server license) |
No CAL Required |
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Remote Desktop Services 2019
Editions |
Licensing Model |
CAL Requirements* |
|
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter |
Core-Based |
Windows Server CAL |
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Windows Server 2019 Standard |
Core-Based |
Windows Server CAL |
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Windows Server 2019 Essentials |
Specialty Server |
No CAL Required |
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Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2019 |
N/A |
N/A |
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Remote Desktop Services 2016
Editions |
Licensing Model |
CAL Requirements* |
|
Datacenter |
Core-Based |
Windows Server CAL |
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Standard |
Core-Based |
Windows Server CAL |
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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 |