Windows Server 2022 RDS Licensing: Supporting 3 Concurrent Sessions without RDS CAL
In this article, we will discuss how to support 3 concurrent sessions on Windows Server 2022 without purchasing RDS CALs. Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a powerful technology that allows multiple users to connect to a single Windows Server and use it as if it were their own desktop. However, to use RDS, you need to have a valid RDS Client Access License (CAL) for each user or device that connects to the server.
Understanding RDS Licensing
RDS licensing is a complex topic, but in simple terms, it is a way to keep track of how many users or devices are connecting to an RDS server. Microsoft requires that you have a valid RDS CAL for each user or device that connects to the server. There are two types of RDS CALs: per-user and per-device. Per-user CALs are assigned to individual users, while per-device CALs are assigned to individual devices.
RDS CALs are sold in packages of 5, 10, 25, 50, or 250 CALs. You can also purchase RDS CALs through the Microsoft Volume Licensing program. If you are using RDS in a production environment, it is recommended that you purchase RDS CALs to ensure that you are in compliance with Microsoft's licensing requirements.
Supporting 3 Concurrent Sessions without RDS CALs
If you need to support 3 concurrent sessions on Windows Server 2022 without purchasing RDS CALs, there are a few options available to you. One option is to use the built-in Remote Desktop session host licensing diagnostics tool to temporarily disable RDS licensing. This will allow you to connect up to 2 remote users without a valid RDS CAL.
To disable RDS licensing using the Remote Desktop session host licensing diagnostics tool, follow these steps:
- Open the Remote Desktop session host configuration tool.
- Click on the "Licensing" tab.
- Click on the "Advanced" button.
- Click on the "Disable Licensing Diagnostics" button.
Please note that disabling RDS licensing is not a permanent solution and should only be used as a temporary workaround. If you need to support more than 2 concurrent sessions, you will need to purchase RDS CALs.
Other Options for Supporting Multiple Concurrent Sessions
If you need to support more than 2 concurrent sessions on Windows Server 2022 without purchasing RDS CALs, there are a few other options available to you. One option is to use a third-party remote desktop software that does not require RDS CALs. There are many third-party remote desktop software options available, and some of them are free to use.
Another option is to use virtual machines (VMs) to create separate desktop environments for each user. This will allow you to support multiple concurrent sessions without requiring RDS CALs. However, this approach can be more complex to set up and manage than using RDS.
In this article, we discussed how to support 3 concurrent sessions on Windows Server 2022 without purchasing RDS CALs. While it is possible to temporarily disable RDS licensing or use third-party remote desktop software, purchasing RDS CALs is the recommended solution for supporting multiple concurrent sessions in a production environment.