What is a Windows Server 2016 RDS Device CAL?

An RDS Device CAL is a licence that enables an identifiable device – such as a thin client, workstation, fixed terminal or shared PC – to initiate Remote Desktop Services sessions on Windows Server 2016. The per-device model is the opposite of the per-user model: instead of tracking who connects, the system tracks where the connection originates from. All users accessing the RDS server from that device are covered by the same licence, with no limits on the number of people or sessions.

What is the difference between an RDS Device CAL and an RDS User CAL for Windows Server 2016?

Feature RDS Device CAL RDS User CAL Authorise A specific device A named user Users per licence Unlimited One Devices per licence One Unlimited Assignment type Automatic, valid for 52–89 days then released Named, permanent Optimal scenario Shift-based departments, reception, service desks, kiosks Mobile workers, remote working, BYOD

Why is the Device CAL assigned automatically and does not require manual configuration?

The RDS licence server manages the assignment independently: when a device connects to RDS for the first time, the server assigns it a CAL from the registered pool and keeps it reserved for 52–89 days. This mechanism eliminates the need to manually pre-assign licences to each individual machine, simplifying management in environments with many terminals. The administrator simply needs to ensure that the number of registered CALs is sufficient to cover all devices connecting simultaneously during peak usage.

Do RDS Device CALs for Windows Server 2016 also cover earlier versions of Windows Server?

Yes. For backwards compatibility, an RDS Device CAL for Windows Server 2016 also covers RDS sessions on servers running earlier versions of the operating system, such as Windows Server 2012 and 2008. The reverse is not true: CALs issued for earlier versions do not authorise access to Windows Server 2016.

What is the difference between an RDS Device CAL and a standard Windows Server Services CAL?

The standard CAL enables general access to server services, files, printing, directories and applications, but does not include the right to open remote desktop sessions via RDS. The RDS Device CAL complements the standard CAL and specifically enables Remote Desktop Services sessions on that device. An RDS-compliant environment requires both licence types for each connected device.

When should you NOT choose the Windows Server 2016 RDS Device CAL?

If each user connects to the server from multiple personal devices – such as a work laptop in the office, a desktop PC at home or a tablet whilst travelling – the RDS User CAL is more cost-effective as it covers all of that user’s devices with a single licence. If the server is already running Windows Server 2019 or 2022, you will need CALs for the corresponding version: a 2016 CAL does not cover RDS sessions on later versions. With extended support for Windows Server 2016 due to end in January 2027, anyone planning their infrastructure over a multi-year timeframe should consider upgrading the server at the same time as renewing their access licences.

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 RDS DEVICE CAL

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 RDS DEVICE CAL - Product Key

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 RDS DEVICE CAL - Product Key

Name: Microsoft Windows Server 2016 RDS DEVICE CAL - Product Key
Brand: Microsoft
SKU: MWS-2016-RDSDC
Price: 106.57 USD
Availability: InStock

$106.57

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Purchase Windows Server 2016 RDS DEVICE CALs from Mr Key Shop’s catalog at competitive prices. Order your RDS DEVICE CAL 2016 licenses for your business, authorize your devices within a few seconds from your order, and enjoy all the benefits from one of the best digital stores in the market!

If your company runs a Windows Server 2016 instance with RDS enabled, the DEVICE CALs from Mr Key Shop are your best option to deploy your CALs (Client Access Licenses) right away to your customers and staff devices. Discover all the benefits from Mr Key Shop right now!

Discover the features from Windows Server 2016 RDS DEVICE CALs

With Windows Server 2016 RDS DEVICE CALs, you can create desktop sessions with shared resources that are accessible by multiple employees from a PC or personal desktop sessions.

Thanks to the VDI feature for Windows Server 2016, you can create a virtual desktop infrastructure where each user is assigned a personal desktop within the pool. Hyper-v (Windows Server Virtualization), included in the Windows Server 2016 OS, allows running multiple Operating Systems as Virtual Machines in Windows and hardware virtualization (each VM runs in different virtual hardware combinations).

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Windows Server 2016 RDS Device CAL system requirements

Requirement	Details
Compatible server	Windows Server 2016 with the Remote Desktop Services role enabled
Licence type	RDS Device CAL: one specific device, unlimited users
Alternative	RDS User CAL: one named user, unlimited devices
RDS licence server	Mandatory: same RDS server or dedicated host within the infrastructure
Licence server activation	Prerequisite prior to CAL registration (online or by telephone)
Device allocation period	52–89 days, then automatically released back into the pool
Grace period	120 days without registered CALs before RDS connections are blocked
Supported client devices	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android with a compatible RDP or RemoteApp client
Version compatibility	RDS Device CAL 2016 provides backward compatibility for RDS sessions on earlier versions
Support status	Windows Server 2016 in extended support until 12 January 2027

RDS Device CAL Windows Server 2016: the licence that protects the workstation, whoever accesses it

Windows Server 2016 RDS Device CAL is the licence that authorises a specific physical or virtual device to establish Remote Desktop Services sessions on Windows Server 2016, regardless of how many different users access it throughout the day. There is no installer to deploy on the client machine: after purchasing from Mr Key Shop, the product key is sent by email and registration takes place entirely on the RDS licence server, without any action required on the client machines.

Activating the licence server and RDS role: prerequisites before obtaining the code

The Remote Desktop licence server must be active and registered with Microsoft before any CALs can be installed. The role can be installed on the same server that provides RDS services or on a separate host within the infrastructure, provided it is accessible to the session brokers. Activation takes place via the Licence Manager using an online procedure or, where connectivity requires it, by telephone. Once the server has been activated, Device CALs are automatically distributed to client devices upon the first RDS connection: the server draws from the registered pool and binds the licence to the device for a fixed period of 52–89 days, after which the CAL becomes available again without any manual intervention. Windows Server 2016 offers a 120-day grace period to complete the initial configuration without any connection blocks.

Installing the RDS Device CAL product key: wizard and pool update

From the Remote Desktop Licence Manager on Windows Server 2016, launch the licence installation wizard, select the Device CAL type and the licence programme corresponding to your purchase, then enter the product key received from Mr Key Shop. Registration is completed online in just a few steps and the authorised device counter is updated immediately. Keep the product key filed in your organisation’s compliance documentation: in the event of a licence server replacement, RDS infrastructure consolidation or a Microsoft audit, it serves as official proof of licence coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Windows Server 2016 RDS Device CAL

What is a Windows Server 2016 RDS Device CAL?
An RDS Device CAL is a licence that enables an identifiable device – such as a thin client, workstation, fixed terminal or shared PC – to initiate Remote Desktop Services sessions on Windows Server 2016. The per-device model is the opposite of the per-user model: instead of tracking who connects, the system tracks where the connection originates from. All users accessing the RDS server from that device are covered by the same licence, with no limits on the number of people or sessions.

What is the difference between an RDS Device CAL and an RDS User CAL for Windows Server 2016?

Feature	RDS Device CAL	RDS User CAL
Authorise	A specific device	A named user
Users per licence	Unlimited	One
Devices per licence	One	Unlimited
Assignment type	Automatic, valid for 52–89 days then released	Named, permanent
Optimal scenario	Shift-based departments, reception, service desks, kiosks	Mobile workers, remote working, BYOD

Why is the Device CAL assigned automatically and does not require manual configuration?
The RDS licence server manages the assignment independently: when a device connects to RDS for the first time, the server assigns it a CAL from the registered pool and keeps it reserved for 52–89 days. This mechanism eliminates the need to manually pre-assign licences to each individual machine, simplifying management in environments with many terminals. The administrator simply needs to ensure that the number of registered CALs is sufficient to cover all devices connecting simultaneously during peak usage.
Do RDS Device CALs for Windows Server 2016 also cover earlier versions of Windows Server?
Yes. For backwards compatibility, an RDS Device CAL for Windows Server 2016 also covers RDS sessions on servers running earlier versions of the operating system, such as Windows Server 2012 and 2008. The reverse is not true: CALs issued for earlier versions do not authorise access to Windows Server 2016.
What is the difference between an RDS Device CAL and a standard Windows Server Services CAL?
The standard CAL enables general access to server services, files, printing, directories and applications, but does not include the right to open remote desktop sessions via RDS. The RDS Device CAL complements the standard CAL and specifically enables Remote Desktop Services sessions on that device. An RDS-compliant environment requires both licence types for each connected device.
When should you NOT choose the Windows Server 2016 RDS Device CAL?
If each user connects to the server from multiple personal devices – such as a work laptop in the office, a desktop PC at home or a tablet whilst travelling – the RDS User CAL is more cost-effective as it covers all of that user’s devices with a single licence. If the server is already running Windows Server 2019 or 2022, you will need CALs for the corresponding version: a 2016 CAL does not cover RDS sessions on later versions. With extended support for Windows Server 2016 due to end in January 2027, anyone planning their infrastructure over a multi-year timeframe should consider upgrading the server at the same time as renewing their access licences.