Which RDS CALs 2012 R2 licence is suitable for me?

Windows Server operating system licences are solely for running the operating system on the physical server of the licence holder. They do not provide legal rights for users or devices to connect to it.

Separate licences are needed for users or devices to access the server and utilise certain services.

A User-CAL grants a licence to the user, allowing access to multiple endpoints as the CAL is linked to the individual, not the device. A Device-CAL provides the device with access to the server, so users of that device do not need a User-CAL.

Which one is right for my business?

It depends on whether you have more employees or more devices, and on your work environment—whether employees connect from outside or within the company.

For instance:

• If you have fewer employees than devices, opt for User-CAL, or if your workplace requires connection from various devices, this is your best choice.
• If you have fewer devices than users, opt for Device-CAL, or if employees work in the same location but on different schedules, sharing devices, this would be ideal.

RDS CALs User Licence

For most businesses, the RDS CALs per user licence is the most economical, as employees often access servers via multiple devices. Consider an employee who checks their email on a desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile within a week. One RDS CALs per user licence would suffice for that employee, but with a per-device licence, you would need 4 RDS CALs per device licences for those devices to access the server.

RDS CALs Device Licence

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

The RDS CALs per Device licence suits businesses with many employees sharing a limited number of computers. Examples include a kiosk in a shopping centre with part-time staff, a maintenance team using a shared PC for clocking in and out, or a 24/7 operation with day and night shifts using the same computers.