Question about CALs and MS Licencing

dave-lew99

dave-lew99

dave-lew99

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Hi, i've got my head in a twist trying to work out MS CAL licencing, basically i'm angling to deploy SBS at work (mostly for Exchange) but i'm not sure how it works.

From my understanding every version of SBS comes with 5 CALs which you can chose to be either device or user CALs, we have 7 users we'd have to get a pack of 5 more.

Here's the confusion - if it is all device CALs we'd need probably 14 - most people have a laptop and a desktop at least, but if it's user based, can that user log in from two different places at the same time?
 
yup as the names suggest, user based means the license is attached to a user, no matter how many places they might log in.

Device means it's licensed per machine which can work out cheaper in call centre/shift work type places where say 3 people might use the same machine/desk throughout the course of the day.
 
That was my understanding, whats unclear is what happens when the same user is logged into two or more machines at the same time - this is common in our office, most people have two machines which they use at the same time (for software and hardware development)
 
Shouldn't matter I'd have thought, it's still the same user. It's not like you're only buying one user cal and lettign everyone use the same account :)
 
It shouldnt matter no, as long as you have user CALS you should be fine.

Which version of SBS are we talking about, 2003 or 2008?
 
dave-lew99 said:
That was my understanding, whats unclear is what happens when the same user is logged into two or more machines at the same time - this is common in our office, most people have two machines which they use at the same time (for software and hardware development)
Click to expand...

From MS:

A.
A user CAL permits one user (using any device) to access the server software. A device CAL permits one device (used by any user) to access the server software. Both types are offered to allow customers cost-effective licensing options. For example, per-user CALs are most effective when an employee uses several devices to access the server, such as a work computer and a home computer. Per-device CALs are most effective when several employees use the same device to access the server, such as rotating shifts in a call center.
Click to expand...
 
Yes, but the wording of that suggests the user is using one machine at a time - ie works in the office then goes home, not using two simultaneously, hence why i raised the question.
 
If you are really worried just called Microsoft, they'll tell you either way.

The wording of the example could be taken to mean one device at a time but as Sin says, it doesn't explicitly say that. They just chose that example as I imagine in most cases a user would only use one device at a time.

From my own experience I can tell you lots of users for various clients can be logged into several machines at once. Especially the graphics and video editing people - they are routinely working on one machine while another is rendering/encoding. We have had no issues at all. If it was "wrong" I am sure the server would complain! :p
 
Venares said:
Your fine with CAL's as long as the person is logged on with the same credentials on both devices ;)
Click to expand...

Pretty much.

And thinking about it, if it was against MS's terms, I have broken them many times just doing my job. It would take years to do stuff if I had to log out of one machine to go work on another! :p
 
Cool, i know i could have asked MS but it's generally easier to get a quick straight answer just asking here. My server background is all Linux/Unix based so generally don't have all these licencing issues to worry about - just keep adding users and keep an eye on the performance!
 
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