Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

Mar 08, 2022

TSplus as an alternative to RDS without paying RDS license fees to microsoft

Hello, We are evaluating whether to use TSplus (https://www.terminalserviceplus.eu/) as an alternative to Microsoft RDS/Terminal Server. According to TSplus we can not install or uninstall the RDS ...

RDS

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop Services

Terminal Server

Windows Server

hburlandy

Copper Contributor

May 06, 2024

Exactly that. There is no point looking for a way to avoid paying for CAL RDS licensing. It's bizarre how the product tries to suggest that it doesn't need an RDS CAL, but subjects the customer to copyright laws and unnecessary legal risk. A 5-minute look at the EULA reveals that you need the RDS CAL to work.

ShanYuen

Copper Contributor

Feb 05, 2025

I had using lot of remote solutions, GraphOn Go-Global, even Linux based proxy, or long time ago there's hardware based that can work like thin client. I even reading bunch of Microsoft legal documents and passed Microsoft Licensing certification on that time.
But unfortunely you cannot escape from RDS license.
Every time you get multiuser benefit from Windows Server, you have to pay for it.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/A/5/9/A599711B-6807-4757-B38D-1EE269F2F19B/FAQs-Product-Licensing.pdf

MarcosRamazilio
Copper Contributor
Feb 05, 2025
Microsoft tried to sue GraphOn in the past and lost the lawsuit. Since GO-Global does not use RDS infrastructure and does not display the server desktop, Microsoft cannot require an RDS CAL. GO-Global uses its own protocol, so there is no need for an RDS CAL; you will only need a user CAL.