Now the OS of the VM now looks like a normal desktop OS for the users. Then install the “Desktop Experience” feature on your Windows server (= Gold Image).

n contrast to VDA, RDS CALs are “perpetual” licences, so that you buy them once and pay a little more for maintenance per year. After that, all you need to do is purchase Microsoft Remote Desktop (RDS) Client Access Licenses (CAL) for each user who accesses the VMs.

In order to do this, you must purchase Windows Server Datacenter licences that allow you to roll out and operate as many server instances on the hardware as you want. You can introduce exactly the same in the VDI area.

One of the ways that many “Desktop as a Service” providers take to avoid the Windows Client licence rules (and therefore have to pay VDA) is: To make a Windows server operating system look as if it were a Windows client OS. It doesn't matter whether you use Citrix, Microsoft or VMware for VDI - the €100 per year is definitely due and will add up to an alarmingly high amount over time. VDA currently costs around €100 per user and year (previously per device). VDA licences also give end users access to virtual desktops with Windows 7/8/10 that do not run a licensed version of Windows (e.g. Software Assurance (SA) is a volume licensing program that provides customers with 24/7 technical support, rollout help, end user and IT training, and the latest software releases. Microsoft's licensing rules for virtual desktops are mainly based on two approaches:

Regardless of whether you want to change an existing VDI implementation, plan a productive environment or do your first rollout, here are some lesser known tips that can really help you save money. New licensing opportunities and technical improvements can dramatically reduce the cost of deploying virtual desktops.

Vmware vdi licensing