Activating Windows Server 2022 RDS 50 User CAL

The RDS 50 User CAL licenses for Windows Server 2022 are used to legally provide remote desktop services to users within a company. In practice, this means that a specific number of users can connect to a server with the Remote Desktop Services role, in accordance with the purchased license pool. Installing the RDS role alone is not enough, as activating the license server and adding the relevant CAL packages are also required.

Below, you will find a simple instruction that will help you go through the entire process of activating Windows Server 2022 RDS 50 User CAL step by step. The description assumes a standard server environment, where the license server is already installed or is to be configured on the same host.

Step by Step

1. Log in to the Windows Server 2022 server with an administrator account.

2. Open Server Manager, then go to: Tools -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Licensing Manager.

3. In the left panel, find the name of your server. If next to it, you see information that the server is not activated, right-click on it and select Activate Server.

4. The activation wizard will start. The most commonly chosen method is Automatic connection. This is the most convenient option, provided the server has internet access. In the wizard, fill in the basic company data, such as the organization name, country, and administrator's email address.

5. After completing the activation of the license server, the wizard will usually offer to install the CAL licenses immediately. Select Run the Install Licenses Wizard.

6. In the license installation wizard, select the relevant licensing program. Depending on the purchase method, this may be, for example, a commercial license, Open License, CSP, or another model indicated in the purchase documents. This is an important stage, as it determines what data needs to be provided.

7. Enter the data received when purchasing the RDS 50 User CAL license, such as the agreement number, license key, or authorization identifier, depending on the purchase model.

8. When choosing the license type, select: Windows Server 2022 and RDS User CAL.

9. Specify the number of licenses, i.e., 50, and then complete the installation. After correctly adding the license package, it should be visible on the license server as active.

10. Now, you need to ensure that the RDS session server uses the correct license server and licensing mode. Open Local Group Policy Editor or the relevant domain policy and go to: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Licensing.

11. Enable the setting Use the specified Remote Desktop license servers and enter the name of your license server.

12. Also, enable the setting Set the Remote Desktop licensing mode and select Per User, as you are activating 50 User CAL, not device licenses.

13. After saving the changes, restart the service or the entire server so that the settings are applied correctly.

If you need help or have questions, please contact us at [email protected] or call 00 800 121 1654.

Checking

After completing the configuration, it's worth confirming that everything is working correctly.

First, return to the Remote Desktop Licensing Manager and check if the server has an activated status and if the installed RDS User CAL package for Windows Server 2022 is visible in the quantity of 50.

Next, open the Remote Desktop Licensing Diagnostics. This tool will show whether the session host sees the license server and whether the correct Per User mode is set. If everything is configured correctly, there should be no critical error messages.

A good practical test is also to log in with an example user via RDP and check if the session starts without warnings about licensing issues. In domain environments, it's also worth ensuring that group policies have been applied to the server.

Problems

The most common problem is a mismatch in the licensing mode. If User CAL is installed, but the session host has the Per Device mode set, the server will report errors. In such a situation, you need to correct the policy and set the Per User mode.

Another common problem is the lack of a specified license server. Even if licenses have been correctly added, the session host may not use them if it does not know the name of the license server. Then, you need to manually specify the server in the policies and refresh the configuration.

It also happens that the administrator chooses the wrong licensing program during the installation of the CAL package. If the data from the purchase documents does not match the selected model, activation will not be successful. In such a case, it's best to return to the licensing documents and check the exact type of purchase.

A problem may also be the lack of internet access during automatic activation. In such a case, you should use activation via a browser or phone, if the method is available in the wizard.

If warnings still appear after installing licenses, it's worth checking if the licensing service is working correctly, if DNS recognizes the server name, and if there is no delay in applying group policies.

FAQ

Does RDS 50 User CAL mean 50 simultaneous connections?
Not always. User CAL means permission for 50 named users to use remote desktop services, according to Microsoft's licensing policies. The limit of simultaneous sessions may also depend on the server configuration and hardware resources.

Do User CAL licenses need to be assigned manually to each user?
In a standard configuration, they are not assigned manually in the same way as accounts in the system. The most important thing is to correctly set the Per User mode and properly activate the license server.

What to do if the wizard rejects the license data?
First, check if the correct licensing program and product version have been selected. If the data is still being rejected, contact the seller or write to us: [email protected].

If you have problems with selecting or activating Windows Server 2022 RDS 50 User CAL licenses, contact us at [email protected]. We will help verify the type of license, the method of activation, and the correctness of the server configuration. You can also call us at 00 800 121 1654.