✅ Backward compatibility rule: A Windows Server 2022 RDS CAL covers 2019/2016 RDSH, but not vice versa.
Strictly enforced; connections are blocked if limit is reached Up to 120 days Up to 89 days Revocability Cannot be revoked Up to 20% of CALs can be revoked Best For remote desktop services license
🔍 Discrepancy between installed/issued CALs and actual usage = true-up liability. ✅ Backward compatibility rule: A Windows Server 2022
: The online facility that Microsoft maintains to activate license servers and issue CALs to those servers. 3. Quick Comparison: Per User vs. Per Device Feature Per User CAL Per Device CAL Assignment To a user in Active Directory To a physical device Tracking Tracked by license server Tracked by license server Workgroup Use Not supported; needs a domain Supported in workgroups Over-allocation Possible, but breaches agreement Not possible; license must be available Revocation Cannot be revoked Up to 20% can be revoked 4. How to Set Up Your RDS Licensing Install the Role How to Set Up Your RDS Licensing Install
To use RDS, you need to meet the following license requirements:
| ✅ Do | ❌ Don't | |--------|----------| | Install RD Licensing on a stable, backed-up server. | Rely on the grace period beyond testing. | | Match license version to RDSH OS (or newer). | Mix Per User and Per Device across farm. | | Use Group Policy to enforce license server discovery. | Reassign Per Device CALs more often than 90 days without retiring the old device. | | Keep purchase records for 3+ years. | Assume Windows Server CAL includes RDS access. |