Client Access Licence (CAL) User – Remote Desktop Windows Server 2022

The RDS User CAL for Windows Server 2022 grants one person the right to open Remote Desktop sessions on your server, from an unlimited number of devices. It is neither software nor an installation file: it is a legal right of access, recorded on the server side. It is aimed at businesses that centralise their line-of-business applications and whose teams work from several workstations or remotely.

The principle of CALs, plainly

• The server licence does not cover access. Windows Server 2022 is licensed per core; the users who connect to it are licensed separately, per CAL.
• RDS CALs and Windows Server CALs are cumulative. For a Remote Desktop session, you need both for the same user. The RDS CAL adds to, it does not replace. This is the most common confusion in SMEs.
• A CAL is not transferable on the fly. It is assigned to an identified person; reassignment is only permitted in the event of a permanent departure or after a reasonable period.
• 2022 generation. These CALs cover a 2022 server or earlier, never Windows Server 2025.

User or Device

Choose User if your staff connect from several machines: desktop at the office, laptop at home, tablet at a client's. Choose Device if several people take turns on the same workstation. The rule fits in one sentence: license the smaller of the two numbers, devices or users.

Windows Server 2022 and Remote Desktop

This generation brings TLS 1.3 encryption of sessions, better smoothness over slow links and support for recent Remote Desktop clients, including from a browser. Extended support for Windows Server 2022 runs until October 2031, which makes it a durable foundation.

Activation

The key arrives by e-mail within 24 hours at most. On the server, open the Remote Desktop Services licence manager, activate the licence server, install the licence pack with the key, then set the deployment licensing mode to “Per user”.

Buy an RDS CAL Windows Server 2022

Odin Key is operated by CHKEY OÜ, an Estonian company. Official invoice, support by e-mail. Key dispatched by e-mail within 24h after payment.