RDS and TS CAL Interoperability Matrix
One question heard is what CAL types can be used with what OS versions of Remote Desktop Licensing Server and Remote Desktop host server.
Background information:
Windows Server 2016 RD Licensing article
Windows Server 2012 R2 licensing document
Windows Server 2008R2 How To Install CALs article
How to control issuance of RDS CALs
The following matrix shows which TS CALs and RDS CALs can be entered on different versions of the TS and RD Licensing Server:
| TS|RD Licensing Server OS Version | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAL type | 2000 | 2003 | 2003R2 | 2008 | 2008R2 | 2012 | 2012R2 | 2016 |
| 2000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 2003 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2008(2) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2012 | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2016 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
The following matrix shows which TS CALs and RDS CALs can be used to allow a user to connect to an RDS host OS version (from official article):
| RD Session/Virtual Host OS version | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAL type | 2000 | 2003 | 2003R2 | 2008 | 2008R2 | 2012 | 2012R2 | 2016 |
| 2000 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| 2003 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| 2008 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| 2012 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2016 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Notes:
(1) Per http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh553159(v=ws.10).aspx to install RDS CALs on a Windows Server 2008 License Server, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968074 required.
(2) Despite the new name, the Windows Server 2008 TS CAL is functionally equivalent to the Windows Server 2008 R2 RDS CAL (per http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh553159).
(3) Can be RDSH (Session-based) or RDVH (Virtual machine-based).