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Microsoft Lisencing for User Cals

We have 60 Windows 2008 SBS licences and we want to join a Windows R2 to the domain. We have 4 companies that connect to the domain. The only company that wants to access the 2008 R2 server has 8 computer users.

We've been told by our software supplier that we have to buy 60 Windows 2008 R2 licences because we've added a server that’s a later version to the domain. I thought we would have to buy just 8 windows 2008 R2 licences? Can anyone clairify this please?

Busbar

you are correct, read here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2007/10/04/debunking-the-myth-about-additional-domain-controllers-replica-dcs-in-an-sbs-domain.aspx

Additional servers can be joined to or promoted to the domain but separate server licenses must be obtained for each additional server. However expanded client access license (CAL) rights in Windows SBS 2003 R2 allow client computers to access additional servers on the network (such as those running Exchange Server 2003, SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, and Windows Server) without requiring additional CALs. This applies to additional DCs as well.

Aditya Arora

you will be required 8 CALS. as per Microsoft licensing every user who accesses the server to use services required CALS. and in your case there are only 8 user who access the server (R2).

Member_2_6515809

If it's an SBS domain then you will need SBS CALS.

2008 CALs are valid for 2008 R2, so you need 8 x SBS 2008 CALs, which will make you compliant.

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Lee W, MVP

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resolver1

ASKER

Thanks for the answer.