A refresher question about device / user CALs for SBS 2003
I want to double check my thinking on SBS 2003 CALs....
I remember the example of 50 employees in the warehouse and there's 5 PCs in the breakroom. There can be 50 accounts created for each user, but if you choose device CALs, you only need 5 CALs.
And if you have 5 users that bounce around to a mix of 50 PCs, cell phones, etc, you choose user CALs and only need 5 CALs.
but what if you have 50 employees in the field, each with their own laptop and there are only 5 desks in the office / only 5 laptops / users could connect at 1 time.
that takes 50 CALs no matter how you juggle it / no matter how many connect at any 1 time, right?
and if each user also has a cell phone / mobile 5 device, then you want to go with user CALs because each of those devices count as a device in the device CAL count, right?!
And I have a 5 pack of CALs that were bought before R2. The new R2 server we are putting in place would take that, right? in other words, there's no difference between / no such thing as pre R2 CALs and R2 CAls?
thanks
I remember the example of 50 employees in the warehouse and there's 5 PCs in the breakroom. There can be 50 accounts created for each user, but if you choose device CALs, you only need 5 CALs.
And if you have 5 users that bounce around to a mix of 50 PCs, cell phones, etc, you choose user CALs and only need 5 CALs.
but what if you have 50 employees in the field, each with their own laptop and there are only 5 desks in the office / only 5 laptops / users could connect at 1 time.
that takes 50 CALs no matter how you juggle it / no matter how many connect at any 1 time, right?
and if each user also has a cell phone / mobile 5 device, then you want to go with user CALs because each of those devices count as a device in the device CAL count, right?!
And I have a 5 pack of CALs that were bought before R2. The new R2 server we are putting in place would take that, right? in other words, there's no difference between / no such thing as pre R2 CALs and R2 CAls?
thanks
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Oh, does the 'administrator' account count as a user CAL? i.e. does working on the console as the outside consultant logged in as administrator take a CAL in SBS 2003?
No, the administrator does not use a CAL, nor would an outside consultant logged in even with their own user account. (There's actually two extra "hidden" CALs that are included for these accounts -- so there's really 7 included with the base server -- but they don't say that anywhere).
The fact is that SBS licensing is a very fuzzy realm. Since a single user can actually be logged into the domain on multiple devices simultaneously they've been very liberal with the automated enforcement. However, that does not mean that you don't need the appropriate CALs... it's really up to you to ensure that you have a valid license for each user or device that connects to the domain... whether or not those users or devices show up in the "Maximum Connected" figure that is displayed in the licensing snap-in. (with the exception of the Administrator and Consultant accounts).
Since you have to buy CALs in 5's or 20's, you will generally have a couple extra anyhow. You should never be a couple short for more than a few days though. However, if you do add users don't worry... the server won't shut them out unless you are grossly out of compliance.
As I mentioned above... don't fret about this... people make it MUCH more complicated than they should... generally because they are trying to save $62.00 or so by trimming a CAL here or there... it's really not worth either the time or effort. It's much better to just have enough, and relax knowing everything is okay.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
The fact is that SBS licensing is a very fuzzy realm. Since a single user can actually be logged into the domain on multiple devices simultaneously they've been very liberal with the automated enforcement. However, that does not mean that you don't need the appropriate CALs... it's really up to you to ensure that you have a valid license for each user or device that connects to the domain... whether or not those users or devices show up in the "Maximum Connected" figure that is displayed in the licensing snap-in. (with the exception of the Administrator and Consultant accounts).
Since you have to buy CALs in 5's or 20's, you will generally have a couple extra anyhow. You should never be a couple short for more than a few days though. However, if you do add users don't worry... the server won't shut them out unless you are grossly out of compliance.
As I mentioned above... don't fret about this... people make it MUCH more complicated than they should... generally because they are trying to save $62.00 or so by trimming a CAL here or there... it's really not worth either the time or effort. It's much better to just have enough, and relax knowing everything is okay.
Jeff
TechSoEasy
ASKER
Thank you.