Confused with User/Device License CALS

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Alex

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Hi. We are currently building a new system with 20 servers (2003 Std R2),
10 workstations (XP) and ~30 users. The servers and workstations will only
be making use of Active Directory for authentication and file sharing,
therefore we plan on buying 15 User/Device Cals, 10 for the Workstations and
5 for five servers which access other servers for file access. All servers
will be configured with Per Seat Licensing Mode.

I'm slightly confused what we then need to do with the licenses. Do we add
them to the License snap-in on the DC's ? I've looked at the License snap-in
and can see how to add a User/Device CALs but how does the system know
whether to allocate the CAL for a user or a device i.e with the above number
of workstations and users, if every user was allocated a CAL rather than the
device they are logging on with, we would be 15 licenses short ?

Can anyone also confirm that a Server accessing file shares on another share
will require a Device CAL, or at least a user CAL for the user account
logged onto a server accessing another server ?

Thanks,
Alex.
 
Re: Confused with User/Device License CALS

Alex <email@microsoftnews.c.o.m> wrote:
> Hi. We are currently building a new system with 20 servers (2003
> Std R2), 10 workstations (XP) and ~30 users. The servers and
> workstations will only be making use of Active Directory for
> authentication and file sharing, therefore we plan on buying 15
> User/Device Cals, 10 for the Workstations and 5 for five servers
> which access other servers for file access. All servers will be
> configured with Per Seat Licensing Mode.
> I'm slightly confused what we then need to do with the licenses. Do
> we add them to the License snap-in on the DC's ? I've looked at the
> License snap-in and can see how to add a User/Device CALs but how
> does the system know whether to allocate the CAL for a user or a
> device i.e with the above number of workstations and users, if every
> user was allocated a CAL rather than the device they are logging on
> with, we would be 15 licenses short ?
> Can anyone also confirm that a Server accessing file shares on
> another share will require a Device CAL, or at least a user CAL for
> the user account logged onto a server accessing another server ?
>
> Thanks,
> Alex.


20 servers for 30 users? I sure hope that's a typo!

Honestly, as licensing can be an arcane science, I suggest you contact
Microsoft directly (or a trusted reseller) for any and all questions about
MS licensing requirements.

To the best of my knowledge you can'tmix and match user/device CALs - you
have to pick.

To answer the "how do you keep track" question - you should stop/disable the
license logging service on your servers, and keep track of your licenses
manually (spreadsheets, but also paper in a file folder). The license
logging service is buggy and not mandatory.
 
Re: Confused with User/Device License CALS

You have to pick what kind of licensing you want. If you install them, they
will install as Device or User CALS and the system knows what to track, but
then you don't have to install them at all. Obviously you want to purchase
the correct licensing and if you only have 10 workstation that 30 users share,
then you want Device CALS. If your servers are in Per Seat mode, which is
what you want to be in usually with multiple servers, you only need that
one user or device CAL for accessing all servers in your domain. So, that
person or device could use resources on different servers without violating
the licensing. Although, not having the exact # of licensing is not going
to stop someone from accessing anything, that is why you can safely shut
off and disable the Licensing service. For example, if you purchase 30 User
CALs and eventually end up with 40 Users, all 40 users can access the resources
at the same time without an issue. I think the only time I've seen licensing
enforced by the system and where it has to be install on the system, is in
SBS Server 2003 - it actually does prevent more than the allowed licensed
users or devices from accessing network resources. I do suggest as well
to keep track of them manually and shut down the licesning service.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong...

Sara

Hello Alex,

> Hi. We are currently building a new system with 20 servers (2003 Std
> R2), 10 workstations (XP) and ~30 users. The servers and workstations
> will only be making use of Active Directory for authentication and
> file sharing, therefore we plan on buying 15 User/Device Cals, 10 for
> the Workstations and 5 for five servers which access other servers for
> file access. All servers will be configured with Per Seat Licensing
> Mode.
>
> I'm slightly confused what we then need to do with the licenses. Do
> we add them to the License snap-in on the DC's ? I've looked at the
> License snap-in and can see how to add a User/Device CALs but how does
> the system know whether to allocate the CAL for a user or a device i.e
> with the above number of workstations and users, if every user was
> allocated a CAL rather than the device they are logging on with, we
> would be 15 licenses short ?
>
> Can anyone also confirm that a Server accessing file shares on another
> share will require a Device CAL, or at least a user CAL for the user
> account logged onto a server accessing another server ?
>
> Thanks,
> Alex.
 
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