SBS licensing Question

n3x · 14 Jun 2007 at 09:59

I have an SBS server with 25 licenses installed, why then does it say...

Installed licenses: 25
Maximum Usage: 29

Im abit confused, can anyone explain as I need to purchase more licenses :confused:

Rob7865 · 14 Jun 2007 at 10:05

Is that 25 licences also including the 5 you get standard with SBS>?

If not then that why!

ttfn

Rob

brendy · 14 Jun 2007 at 10:06

I think generally sbs comes with 5 licenses. uses one itself = 4 remaining plus the 25 purchased.

n3x · 14 Jun 2007 at 10:22

Rob7865 said:
Is that 25 licences also including the 5 you get standard with SBS>?

If not then that why!

ttfn

Rob

Nope it was 5 that came with plus an additional 20 installed. Do administrator accounts count? more than 1 admin for example :confused:

Burnsy2023 · 14 Jun 2007 at 12:14

Are you licensing per user rather than per device?

Oh and a server only needs a CAL if there is more than one server on the domain.

Edit: I've just seen what's going on.

You have 25 activated users and these are licensed to the devices, however the second number is the amount of users who have been logged on since the last server restart. The amount of users can exceed the amount of licenses as you're licensed per device and not per user.

Burnsy

JonnyT · 14 Jun 2007 at 13:25

I'm pretty sure what you're seeing is that the maximum number of users/devices (depending on which licence model you're using) which are concurrently accessing your server is exceeding the number of CALS (Client Access Licences) which you have installed on the server

However, there is a 'grace' limit of +5 users/devices which means your users aren't prevented from logging on in the short term, but I would recommend purchasing an additional 5/10 CALS to prevent any potential users in the longer term and to allow for further growth.

Burnsy2023 · 14 Jun 2007 at 13:29

JonnyT said:
I'm pretty sure what you're seeing is that the maximum number of users/devices (depending on which licence model you're using) which are concurrently accessing your server is exceeding the number of CALS (Client Access Licences) which you have installed on the server

If you read my post above, the amount of users may exceed tha amount of CALs if your licensed per device, in which case he doesn't need any more CALs

Burnsy

JonnyT · 14 Jun 2007 at 14:09

burnsy2023 said:
If you read my post above, the amount of users may exceed tha amount of CALs if your licensed per device, in which case he doesn't need any more CALs

Burnsy

Er, does the "Maximum Usage" not reflect the maximum number of Clients that have connected to the server - clients being Users or Devices based upon the licensing model chosen when setting up the server and the subsequent purchase of relevant CAL packs?

Therefore, if his SBS is using Device CALS, the OP has had a maximum of 29 Devices connecting to his server, when the maximum he is licenced for is 25.

Found in the Microsoft Public SBS newsgroup, a post by a Brandy Nee of Microsoft:

"Maximum usage":

In Server Management\Licensing, the maximum usage means the most licenses
you have had in use since the last server reboot. That has no bearing
(other that showing you if you are nearing your limit) on the number of
currently installed licenses. The Maximum usage tracks the maximum number
of users or devices are accessing the server simultaneously by polling the
licensing service on the SBS server. Note that the Maximum usage number
might not reflect the exact number of licenses in use at all times, because
the licensing service is polled periodically rather than on an ongoing
basis.

And to reiterate my point about a 'grace period', Javier Gomez [MVP] in another post:

> SBS stupid little license indicater says, maximum uses : 6
> doesn't seem to prevent the sixth client form accessing the server or
> outlook or anything.

Like I said... don't mind that counter. Just make sure you comply with
licensing.

SBS gives you some latitude with CAL usage enforcement... this means that if
you exceed the number of for a little bit you shouldn't have problems
(although is not really legal to do so). However, if you continue to add
clients at some point you *will* see it blocking the connections.

burnsy2023 said:
Oh and a server only needs a CAL if there is more than one server on the domain.

Wrong. SBS CALS cover additional Servers in the same Domain - I have done this personally with several SBS installs where the user needs an additional server for a LOB application (such as Oracle).

n3x · 14 Jun 2007 at 14:53

Cheers JonnyT that was a most helpfull post!