CAL Information

SBS CALS are special, but usually they are per user or per Windows device. A printer does not count.
Therefore if you have 10 members of staff then you could be using 10 licences.
If it is has been setup in per device mode and you have three Windows PCs then you will be using 3 licenses.
You need to use the SBS licensing applet to check the current licensing status.

Simon.

Sembee:

"If it is has been setup in per device mode and you have three Windows PCs then you will be using 3 licenses"

So by this you mean if I was to log in using the same name on two different machines, it would still use up two licenses?

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Also, when I attempt to run the Licensing under Control Panel, I get the following message:

"Not available in Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server.  To add client licenses, choose Manage Server from the Start menu and select About Small Business Server."
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Likewise, when I select Licensing from the Administrative Tools, I get:

"To add more licenses, refer to the Small Business Server console."
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Thanks for the help so far.

There is a special SBS licensing tool. I haven't go access to an SBS server at the moment so cannot be 100% sure where it is, it might be part of the SBS console.

The other licensing parts are what is used with a regular Windows 200x machine and most administrators ignore or disable them.

If the machine is in per device mode, then two people login to the same machine - then that is only using one license. Only one person can use that machine at any one time.

Simon.

Hi Simon,

Thanks for the information.

What I also meant in my last post is that if I was to log in onto two different machines under my username, does that mean I use up two licenses?

For example, one of the directors here logs onto her machine in the main office to do her casual computer work.  When a client does come in, she then moves to another part of the office and logs into the laptop (with the same username and pass) to do her client meetings with the client.

Does this mean that she is using two licenses on the server?

Thanks in advance.

If you have licensed it in per device then yes - that has used two licenses.
For most businesses, once you get past one server the per seat licensing is more cost effective - you can then use as many machines and servers as you like.

Simon.

I guess all thats left to do is check whether the server is in per device status (therefore, how much of my 10 licenses are actually being used.)

Simon:

Thanks for the info.

I know you already said that your not sure where the special SBS Licensing tool is, but would you have any other information to give to me about where I might locate it.  I've looked pretty much everywhere on SBS...

In the SBS Administration Console, there is a users section which displays all the usernames that are setup on the computer, but it doesn't display if they are currently using a license (ie: logged in).  The SBS Admin Console also doesn't (appear) tell me if the server is in per device mode.

Any help would be appreciated.

I haven't had access to an SBS server until now.
The best I have been able to find is the number of licenses installed. You can get this from Small Business Server Personal Console, then click on the "About" in the "Helpful Links" on the right hand side. This is also where you can add CALs to the server - which I believe requires a floppy disk in SBS 2000.

However there doesn't appear to be anything that tells you how many CALs are currently in use.

Simon.

Sembee,

Is there a way to check if the server is in per-device mode? in relation to licensing.

Thanks in advance

Simon:

Thanks for the replies, I guess that answers all my questions.

I am accepting your answer.