Windows Server CALs Explained

I demystify the concept of Windows Server client access licenses, explain what they are, and give a tip to manage them effectively.

[juniortavarez]

Honestly HAnds down best explanation I've got.

Thank you.

[jourdan]

Your video specifically answered literally every question I had regarding CALs. It was almost too specific...😶. Lol, thank you for taking the time to make this video.

[kehtang]

very good explanation. Worth a second viewing and saved for further reference. You reminded me of my teacher at university.

[stevenchamberlain]

Thank you very much for explaining this the way you have, I have been very confused about CAL’s and you have now answered all my questions.

[SimonWong]

THANK YOU - especially for clearing up whether you need CALs for each server or just one for each user in a Domain (it's the latter).

[amitabhdas]

Nicely explained. Needed to understand it as recently installed licenses on 2 machines and it helped to understand total license requirement.

[forcom]

This has helped me a lot... to realize I need to get more into Linux for core services. Geez. x.x

[razorray]

By default, Windows will allow for up to 2 Remote Desktop connections at a time. If I require 3 Remote Desktop connections at any one time, would I need to purchase 1 x Remote Desktop Client Access License for the extra user or x3 ?

[InsideNuggets]

Thank you, Eddie. Your video answered some of the confusion I had regarding CALs. I need one more clarification. My organization is looking into having a Key Management Service (KMS) server in house from Microsoft in order to activate windows server 2019 and windows 10, do we still have to order for CALs from Microsoft after the windows server 2019 and windows 10 have been activated for 180 days and continuing?

[jdemuro]

Our CALs are 2016 but we also have 2019 servers in the domain that we're able to connect to. How does that work? or did I miss something?

[thehomelander]

Hi Eddie, I'm a bit confused 😅. I have windows server standard edition we have 25 local user/computers, all users access ADDS, SQL and fileserver from serever, we brought the license for server 2019 standard edition & SQL server 2019, How many license should I take? our server standalone 8 core server. Do i need core license too?

[secCheGuevara]

Thank you very much, Eddie! Highly appreciated content and presentation!

[johanCferreira]

Thank you so much. Your video is very helpful and clarified a couple of things for me.
I need CALs in my classroom. Can I transvers CALs to new user when the current users graduate or is it best to purchase device CALs since the the computers stay in the classroom?
I think I know the answer to this...

[qbakuba]

I have only 1 device that uses sql server. Sql server have over 200 logins that connect to sql server. Does it mean that I need only 1 device CAL?

[apristinemadani]

Thank you very much for this great explanation. I am just getting into Windows Server Administration and Traning stuff (after many decades of being a simple desktop support engineer on Windows 10 and Windows 11 types of operating systems)

I am finding Windows Servers extremely fascinating and powerful. Much more so than just a standalone Windows 10 Client machine because once we start getting into Active Directory and Group Policy, then a whole bunch of amazing things can be achieved using a Windows Server Domain Controller.

One thing I had to think about with this excellent presentation about CALs (especially User Cals) is that once the license you have for that given version of Windows Server (say 2019) expires, you can still go ahead and use your Windows Server 2019 and those user CALs, but I guess Microsoft is simply saying that they don't support any technical issues one may have is that correct? I would also be curious to know typically from your experience, how long do these Software Licence and User CALs last (i mean are they usually good for a year)?

Anyways, you made the great subtle point that yes, once the License for Windows Server 2019 (and the associated) CALs expire, that business can choose to continue using Windows Server for several more years beyond the license agreement. They just wouldn't have any tech support. But as soon as they go to deploy say Server 2022, thats when new costs come in (Not only for the Core base licence of WIndows Server itself, but also the additional new User CALs that would need to be purchased, in order to use that Server 2022 along with any of the older Servers - like 2019, 2016 and so on) that one may have laying around the office.

If I am correct in all these basic understandings about CALs, then my hats off to the presenter, and I hope he can answer a few of those questions I have above.

Thank you so much for making Technology more understandable to the rest of us IT folks out here.

Cheers
Alexander

[AenonNetgear]

How do CALs relate to VMs? For example, a Server 2022 Host server might need 1 or 2 admin users, and then if that machine hosts 3x VM servers, and each of those had two Windows users. Would the host need CALs to cover all the users across the VMs, or is there a per VM license?

[vcolet]

Question...I have my 2019 lic server up and running, when I point my first 2019 rds server to it, I see 1 cal lic issued under issued, but, when I point my 2012 rds server to it we see strange things, we don't see issued for it, yet no error after I pointed the 2012 rds server when I pointed it to the new 2019 lic server all is fine there, we just don't see issued, we have it set to per user lic, and making sure we use diff accts...any ideas why

[Pewpewsogge]

do i need those cal if the server is just there to host specific programms there is no AD being used or other sort of feature really do they need to have a device/user cal to just be connected via ethernet?

[NASCAR-NATION]

Thank you for this video, it explained a lot for me. Maybe this is such a simple answer there is no need to explain it, because I can't find anything to tell me this, but how do you distribute your CAL's? I installed an 8 machine lab using Windows Server 2019 which I was able to distribute the MAK Key to easily. But now I have my 8 machines, and 20 CALs available through the VLSC. How do I get those CAl's registered onto the 8 machines? Do I use the same MAK key on all 8 machines? Do I do nothing? Thanks for any feed back.

[GkTheodore]

Does anyone know if there any CALs included with Server 2022 Standard?

For example:
X users will use "File/Print" and RDS services on a 12 core "Server 2022 Standard" machine.

In my understanding, I will need to buy:
1 x Server 2022 Standard License
+ 5 x CALs
+ 5 x RDS CALs?

Am I correct?


Thank you.