Server 2016 CALS Confused

Lisapete · 23 Feb 2017 at 13:25

Were having too have a new server as ours is so old, poorly and rubbish. Fact it's a Windows Server 2003 Dell.

So were going 2016 but getting confused with the CAL part of it. We have some software that runs from the server to clients all internal network. We also have a lot of data via shared folder/files from said server.

RDP to the server via IT under Admin is done. 2 users do this.

So the user CAL thing, do we need it....

Armageus · 23 Feb 2017 at 13:36

Lisapete said:
So the user CAL thing, do we need it....

erm... Yes

MS Licensing Blog said:
The general requirement is, any User or Device that accesses the server software, either directly or indirectly, requires a CAL. Depending on the product and functionality being accessed, additive CALs may be required as well.

Basically if you accessing anything on a Windows server, then you need a CAL for either each user accessing it, or for each device accessing it.

References:
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...o-when-do-i-need-a-client-access-license-cal/

Lisapete · 23 Feb 2017 at 15:36

Armageus said:
erm... Yes

Basically if you accessing anything on a Windows server, then you need a CAL for either each user accessing it, or for each device accessing it.

References:
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com...o-when-do-i-need-a-client-access-license-cal/

Balls, had a feeling this was going to be the case. Thanks for the help! Looks like we'll need nearly 50 of them

stoofa · 23 Feb 2017 at 19:54

Alas CAL's are required for any Client/Server setup. The good news is that you can add further servers without the need to purchase more CAL's.
So you have 50 users and purchase 50 CAL's - those CAL's are good for connecting to numerous servers.

Lisapete · 24 Feb 2017 at 11:44

stoofa said:
Alas CAL's are required for any Client/Server setup. The good news is that you can add further servers without the need to purchase more CAL's.
So you have 50 users and purchase 50 CAL's - those CAL's are good for connecting to numerous servers.

Ooo that's handy too know. RDP as admin will that need its own CAL as were being told that's the case

Armageus · 24 Feb 2017 at 12:42

Lisapete said:
Ooo that's handy too know. RDP as admin will that need its own CAL as were being told that's the case

Would say it falls under (from the above blog link):

7 – Do I need CALs for my administrators?

Server software licensed using CALs permits up to 2 users or devices to access the server software for the purposes of administration without CALs. However, if your administrators also use the software for anything other than administration (for example, they check their email), CALs will be required for them as well.

Caged · 26 Feb 2017 at 16:55

Buy software assurance with the CALs so you don't have to buy them all again when a new OS comes out.

Also it's pretty funny that your company employs 50 people yet there's one server that's likely a decade old and entirely unsupported. I hope you don't deal with sensitive information.