Thanks for the clarification. I did contact Microsoft's licensing team and like everyone mentioned here, I got different answers each time.
>From the responses I have received I understand what is required as far as >CAL's go. Thanks! From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Susan Bradley Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 12:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [NTSysADM] RDS license question http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2013/09/03/understanding-licensing-for-windows-server-2012-r2-essentials-and-the-windows-server-essentials-experience-role.aspx "The most common question is around using the Remote Web Access feature of the Essentials Experience role. Because this feature makes use of the Remote Desktop Gateway role service of Remote Desktop Services (RDS), an RDS client access license (CAL) is required for each user who is using this feature with the Standard and Datacenter editions. However, for the Essentials edition, as with previous versions, the use of Remote Web Access does not require an RDS CAL. For more information, see this Licensing Brief<http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/briefs/terminal-services.aspx>." You hit that RDgateway directly, you need a RDS cal. Susan Bradley http://www.thirdtier.net/smbkitchen-asp/ ASP is in phase two of the SMBKitchen project. I'm covering security, patching and paranoia. On 6/17/2014 11:59 AM, Mayo, Bill wrote: Microsoft documentation indicates that a CAL is required "for each user connecting to a RD Session Host Server". A PC doesn't fit this definition and I see no evidence to suggest that RDP'ing to a workstation requires any additional licensing. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dave Lum Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 2:48 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: RE: [NTSysADM] RDS license question If I understand MS licensing correctly, you will need an RDS CAL for each user that will be connecting, even if they're just RDP-ing to their PC. But, I am not 100% sure... Dave I'm just trying to allow users to RDP into their machines, without opening 3389. Also the site only has one static so RDP would to multiple machines would be hard unless I change the port numbers. From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of J- P Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 10:32 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: RE: [NTSysADM] RDS license question The license server needs to be activated, in order to allow a computer to establish a remote connection to a and RDS server. if you are not installing an RD server what function will the gateway server? I guess my question is , what exactly are you trying to do that can't be accomplished by FW rules or simple port forwarding? Jean-Paul Natola ________________________________ From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]> Subject: RE: [NTSysADM] RDS license question Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 17:15:01 +0000 Excellent point on the administration part. Thanks Webster for answering my question. Maybe I can ask the next question that piggy backs off that. If the RDS server is setup as a RDS gateway only, does the licensing manager or CALS even need to be installed? From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of J- P Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 9:54 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]> Subject: RE: [NTSysADM] RDS license question I believe, and someone chime in if I'm mistaken, The two cals that "come with it " are for administration only, Administrators don't get counted as RDP users ( I learned that when i started with Citrix years ago ) If you really want to see what is allocated/assigned goto TSlicensing and run a report , it will show how many user liceses are in assigned. here is a sample i just pulled [https://a.gfx.ms/i_safe.gif] Jean-Paul Natola ________________________________ From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]> Subject: [NTSysADM] RDS license question Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 15:53:22 +0000 I'm sure this is a simple question. Server 2008R2 with RDS installed. It has 3 User CAL's installed. I'm testing the CALS and now have 6 different RDP sessions that are active. Shouldn't I have hit a limit here, 3 plus the 2 that come with servers by default? Thanks for any clarifications. Jimmy
