RDS / CAL Question

peter212693 · 24 Nov 2016 at 10:59

Hello,

We are looking at replacing a DC for a client and installing a 2012 R2 DC. They currently have a 2008 R2 DC and and 2008 R2 Terminal Server. Now they have the relivent 2008 User CALs and RDS CALs and understand they have to upgrade the user CALs to 2012 but as the RDS is staying as 2008 R2 Server do we need to upgrade these to 2012 RDS? (Thinking the same rules apply and they need to be valid for the latest operating system in your environment)

Cheers

nutcase · 24 Nov 2016 at 11:48

I don't believe so - they are remote desktop accessing a 2008 server to RD cals need to be for 2008.

However this is microsoft so who knows?! Hopefully someone won't say you can't do that as we are doing it!

blueboy2001 · 24 Nov 2016 at 13:16

Agree with the above - until you upgrade the RDS hosts you can continue to use 2008 CAL's. We have numerous customers operating this way, one recently had an MS audit and this wasn't raised as an issue.

Liquidfox · 24 Nov 2016 at 16:07

As above, you need CALs for whatever operating system your TS is running. In your case it's the existing 2008 ones they already have.

peter212693 · 24 Nov 2016 at 19:46

Excellent, thanks guys.

Shockingly it took 4 different agents from the partner presales line this morning to check to confirm 100% and yes the RDS CALs are based on the RDS Server your are accessing!