***Windows Server Cal License vs Windows Server Remote Desktop Cal License

You said:
if I bought windows server 5 units of remote desktop cal license I must buy 5 units of windows server cal license
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT

No, purchasing 5 units of Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Client Access Licenses (CALs) does not automatically require you to buy 5 units of Windows Server CALs, but there are a few things to understand about the licensing model.

    Windows Server CALs: These are required for any device or user that accesses the Windows Server itself. These CALs are for accessing the core server services like file sharing, print services, Active Directory, etc.

    Remote Desktop Services CALs (RDS CALs): These are specifically for access to the Remote Desktop functionality of the Windows Server. An RDS CAL is required when users or devices access the server via Remote Desktop (whether for administrative purposes or as part of a remote desktop deployment).

Licensing Scenario:

    Windows Server CALs: If you have a Windows Server, you need Windows Server CALs for each user or device that accesses the server directly.

    RDS CALs: These are additional licenses on top of the Windows Server CALs. If you want to use Remote Desktop Services on that server, you'll need to buy RDS CALs as well.

Example:

    If you have 5 users accessing the Windows Server directly for file-sharing or other services, you'll need 5 Windows Server CALs.
    If those same 5 users also need to access the server via Remote Desktop, then you will also need to buy 5 RDS CALs.

Conclusion:

The 5 units of RDS CALs do not replace the need for Windows Server CALs. You must ensure you have the appropriate Windows Server CALs for the users/devices accessing the server's core services, and then separately purchase RDS CALs for users/devices that need to access the Remote Desktop functionality.
You said:
if I bought windows server 10 units of remote desktop cal license then buy 5 units of windows server cal license, is it valid?
ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT

No, this would not be valid under typical Microsoft licensing rules.

Here's why:

    Windows Server CALs (Client Access Licenses) are required for any user or device that directly accesses the Windows Server, regardless of whether they are using RDS (Remote Desktop Services) or not. So if you have 10 users or devices accessing the Windows Server for core services like file sharing, Active Directory, etc., you need 10 Windows Server CALs.

    RDS CALs are a separate type of license, specifically for users or devices that will access the server via Remote Desktop Services. So, if you have 10 users or devices using Remote Desktop to connect to the server, you need 10 RDS CALs, but this is in addition to the Windows Server CALs.

Your scenario:

    If you bought 10 RDS CALs, but only purchased 5 Windows Server CALs, you would be under-licensed for the number of devices or users accessing the Windows Server.
    You need to have at least 10 Windows Server CALs for the 10 users or devices accessing the Windows Server (whether they use Remote Desktop or not). The 5 Windows Server CALs would only cover 5 users/devices accessing the core Windows Server functions, which would not be enough if you have 10 users or devices.

Valid Licensing Setup:

    If you have 10 users or devices accessing the Windows Server, you need:
        10 Windows Server CALs (for accessing core server services).
        10 RDS CALs (for using Remote Desktop Services).

Conclusion:

For it to be valid, you must buy 10 Windows Server CALs if you have 10 users or devices accessing the server, regardless of the number of RDS CALs you have.