asked on
Server Licensing
Just a bit confused on Microsoft Windows Server 2019 licensing scheme. There are cores and CAL's. Looking to purchase the software but not sure which one and how many licenses
ASKER
CAL: Client Access Licence
You need one for every USER, or every DEVICE (if users share devices, this is the better option).
You CAN'T mix and match them though!
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Actually, you can mix and match USER and DEVICE CALs. For example, in a warehouse, 10 people share access to 2 computers with 2 DEVICE CALs (but they can only use these two computers!) while in the office, each office worker has a USER CAL which covers them no matter what computer they use.
Also important, Microsoft doesn't license by user account or concurrent connection. You need one CAL PER PERSON who uses the network (or in the warehouse example) per DEVICE used by warehouse employee that connects to and uses ANY aspect of a Windows network. So even if the warehouse staff uses 2 computers, if each of the 10 use wifi-enabled scanners that read and update a database and get an IP from a Windows DHCP server, then each DEVICE needs a license (in which case, you would be better off with the USER CAL instead of the Device CAL).
And to expand on MA's comment - Server licenses are sold in 2 Core packs or 16 core bundles. You can get a FULL license by buying 8 two-core packs OR one bundle of 16. HOWEVER, if your server has 20 cores, you need to buy an ADDITIONAL 2 two-core packs. Likewise, if you buy a server with only one 12 core processor, you STILL need to buy 16 cores to have a full server license!
ASKER
Still confusing on licensing. Have Dell PowerEdge R630 Server. The server will serve as DNS and Print Server with AD under single forest. Might attach Synology. I already have Sonicwall firewall in place doing DHCP. AD will be behind Sonicwall. No VPN but might have WSUS services. Approximately 300 users will join domain for authentication.
What license is suggested?
You haven't provided enough information on the server. HOW MANY CORES? Windows Server is Licensed PER CORE, MINIMUM 16 cores.
Then each user (or device, depending on your business) needs a Client Access License (CAL). *IF* you don't have ANY publicly available computers (kiosks in a waiting room) or any users who "don't need accounts" but who may need to enter data in an inventory system or something, then you need 300 USER CALs. (As I said before, Microsoft doesn't license per connection; they license per PERSON - HUMAN BEING - Each human being (NOT USER ACOUNT!) needs a Client Access License. This includes employees, volunteers who may help out using a computer, and contract workers.
ASKER
Then for a single server license (which includes 2 VMs), you need to buy Ten 2-Core packs or one 16 core pack plus two 2-core packs.
2 core packs x 10 purchased = 20 total cores = what your server has.
ASKER
Understood cores. Human accessing server needs license? Really. For what? Just because human has AD account and gets authenticated to login to their own workstation? I don't think so. If that is the case Microsoft is ripping people off.
Why would I need 300 CAL? Justify me
ASKER
So, you are saying a company of 10,000 employees, need 10,000 CAL (HUMANS). Really?
Why would I need 300 CAL? Justify me
I'm not Microsoft. I'm telling you want the rule is. I didn't create it. And I don't screw around with it. Get audited and the legal fees alone could exceed the costs of the licenses, even if you can prove yourself justified. Microsoft hasn't licensed by concurrent connection since Windows 2000. It's all by the person. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine... call Microsoft, you probably should anyway.
(I haven't been posting this and I should be).
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ASKER
FYI: There is no such thing as HUMAN or PERSON license.
After much research and conversation, there are 2 types of licenses besides core license. Client license and device license. Based on what a business wants, they can go with either or a combination of both.
Microsoft doesn't have a provision for "HUMAN" or "PERSON" license. Search resulted in "0" found.
There is a Windows USER Client Access License and Windows DEVICE Client Access License. What defines a USER? A Human Being. NOT a user account. That was my point.
There are also Exchange Client Access Licenses, Remote Desktop Client Access Licenses, SQL Client Access Licenses and others. CAL is an abbreviation for Client Access License. CALs are ADDITIVE. They do not replace another license. If you have a server with users connecting via remote desktop to a SQL database, you need for each person:
*USER (or DEVICE) CAL
*Remote Desktop CAL
*SQL CAL
(Screenshot from https://www.trustedtechteam.com/collections/standard-cals)
In my second comment:
you need 300 USER CALs. (As I said before, Microsoft doesn't license per connection; they license per PERSON - HUMAN BEING - Each human being (NOT USER ACOUNT!) needs a Client Access License.
ASKER
As mentioned before, server will only do AD authentication, DNS, Print Server. No other roles (remote desktop OR SQL OR Exchange OR, File Server, etc, etc). So, what license is required.
If a user is using a device has a CAL, then the device doesn't need a CAL. If the Device used by user has a CAL, the user doesn't need one. But if the device uses ANY Windows Server Service, then a CAL must exist.
Update: : Lee is correct you CAN mix User/Device CALS but then it's YOUR responsibility to be on top of the licensing from that point forward, (i.e. the Licence server cannot do/track that for you.)
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A minimum of 8 cores must be licensed per processor.
i.e. If you have a dual processor with 8 cores you need 16 core license which is the minimum.
https://techlibrary.hpe.com/us/en/enterprise/servers/licensing/index.aspx