Windows Server 2019 RDS User CAL – Remote Desktop Services Licence

Windows Server 2019 RDS User CAL — Remote Desktop Services

The Windows Server 2019 RDS User CAL (Remote Desktop Services User Client Access Licence) is the client access licence you need to allow users to connect to a Windows Server 2019 server via Remote Desktop Services (RDS). Without a valid RDS CAL, Windows blocks every connection beyond the two administrative sessions. At Yeslicense, get your RDS User CAL licence key with instant delivery by email.

What is an RDS User CAL?

RDS (Remote Desktop Services) is the Windows Server service that lets users access applications, virtual desktops or data hosted on a server from any device — PC, Mac, tablet or thin client. To make this access compliant, Microsoft requires every authorised user or device to have an RDS CAL.

There are two types of RDS CAL:

• User CAL (this product): licensed per person. An authorised user can connect from any device. Recommended when users switch devices or connect from several devices.
• Device CAL: licensed per physical device. Recommended when several users share the same workstation in shifts.

Typical RDS CAL use cases

Remote working — Your staff access their business applications installed on the RDS server from home. Each employee needs an RDS User CAL.

Centralised applications — Rather than installing software on every PC, you publish it on the RDS server and access it via RemoteApp. Each authorised user must have an RDS CAL.

Thin clients — Thin client workstations with no local OS connect entirely to the RDS server. The RDS User CAL is the right licence in this case.

Infrastructure needed to deploy RDS

To deploy a complete RDS environment on Windows Server 2019, you need:

1. Windows Server 2019 with the Remote Desktop Services role enabled: see our Windows Server 2019 Standard licences or Windows Server 2019 Datacenter.
2. An RDS licence server (Remote Desktop Licensing role) to manage the CALs.
3. RDS CALs — one per authorised user (this product) or one per device accessing the server.
4. Windows Server CALs — in addition to RDS CALs, each user also needs a standard Windows Server CAL to access the server.

Activating and deploying RDS CALs

1. Install and activate the Remote Desktop Licensing role on a Windows Server 2019 server.
2. Activate the licence server through the Microsoft Clearinghouse (online or by phone).
3. Install the RDS CALs on the licence server using the licence code you received.
4. Configure Group Policy to point to the licence server.
5. Users can now connect to the RDS server up to the number of CALs installed.

Frequently asked questions

Are RDS 2019 CALs compatible with Windows Server 2016?
Yes, Windows Server 2019 RDS CALs are backward compatible and can be used on Windows Server 2016 and 2012 R2.

What is the difference between an RDS CAL and a standard Windows Server CAL?
The standard Windows Server CAL authorises access to the server's core services (files, printers, Active Directory). The RDS CAL is additional and specifically authorises access to Remote Desktop sessions (full virtual desktop or applications published via RemoteApp).

Complementary server infrastructure at Yeslicense

• Windows Server 2019 Standard — The host server for your RDS infrastructure.
• Windows Server 2022 Standard — The most recent version, supported until 2031.
• All Windows Server licences — Our complete server infrastructure catalogue.