Windows Server 2022 Remote Desktop Services CAL - 1 Device CAL
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License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs)
- Article
- 02/09/2022
- 4 minutes to read
- 12 contributors
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In this article
Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016
Each user and device that connects to a Remote Desktop Session host needs a client access license (CAL). You use RD Licensing to install, issue, and track RDS CALs.
When a user or a device connects to an RDSession Host server, the RDSession Host server determines if an RDSCAL is needed. The RDSession Host server then requests an RDSCAL from the Remote Desktop license server. If an appropriate RDSCAL is available from a license server, the RDSCAL is issued to the client, and the client is able to connect to the RDSession Host server and from there to the desktop or apps they're trying to use.
There is a licensing grace period of 120 Days during which no license server is required. Once the grace period ends, clients must have a valid RDSCAL issued by a license server before they can log on to an RDSession Host server.
Use the following information to learn about how client access licensing works in Remote Desktop Services and to deploy and manage your licenses:
- License your RDS deployment with client access licenses (CALs)
- Understanding the RDS CAL model
- RDS CAL version compatibility