CALS for Windows Small Business Server 2003

[Trellot]

I am a little confused on the licensing for WSBS2003. If I am networking 12 computers with Windows XP Professional, do each of these computers need a license to access the server running Windows Small Business '03? I guess they call these CALS?

 

[Varun]

I believe you do, unless you are unathenticated. We use Novell at work though.

Anyways:

Microsoft is the place to find out

Give them a call if you have any questions

 

[redbeard1]

Yes, but with a caveat. There are two types of CAL's: User and Device. Device is usually the better route. That means that whatever is connecting to the server, normally the computer, is always validated, and it does not matter how many people use it. A user CAL is what it says, one per user. So if you have 24 users and 12 computers, you actually needs 24 of these CAL's.

 

[Trellot]

Yowsers! So then if I have 12 computers connecting to the server, I would want 12 device CALs? And these device CALs can be used on any device or are they tied to the one device it gets registered with?

Trellot

 

[Varun]

It's all in the link I posted

Per User or Per Device Mode
Per User/Per Device mode is defined as follows:

? A separate Windows CAL (of either type) is required for each user or device that accesses or uses the server software on any of your servers.

? The number of Windows CALs required equals the number of users or devices accessing the server software.

? If you choose this licensing mode, your choice is permanent. You can, however, reassign a Windows CAL from one device to another device or from one user to another user, provided the reassignment is made either (a) permanently away from the one device or user or (b) temporarily to accommodate the use of the Windows CAL either by a loaner device, while a permanent device is out of service, or by a temporary worker, while a regular employee is absent.

 

[Slowlearner]

SBS 2003 with 5 CALs if being promoted heavily at a special price. If in fact you will have only 5 users - this is a great deal. However, as soon as you want more CALs the pricing is decidely unfriendly. For Win2003 Server with 5 cals is like $700, and each addl 5 cal pack is like $150, but for SBS2003, the base software with 5 cals may be a low ~ $350, but the next five cals are going to cost you $450. So check the total cost before deciding. Also Win2003 SBS Std is not a full featured product, its advanced or premium edition is, and thats quite expensive.

 

[Agamar]

SBS 2003 with per-device is almost always the way to go. I have 3 shops running it and they all turned out better with the per-device cals.

 

[Xpage]

Slowlearner
That stand or premium edition? Also have any good links?