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Let's clear some things up about MS CALs.

J

JackBurton

Lifer
Ok, what the heck is MS doing with their licensing? Now with the new licensing, Windows XP needs it's own CAL to access a Windows 2003 (R2) Terminal Server? What would be the safest way to go for TS CALs, for clients that are Windows XP and Windows 2000? Let's say I need 20 people to access TS. I was planning on purchasing 20 Device CALs for the TS (Windows 2003 R2). Is that all I need to be compliant?

I don't know if MS can make their licensing any more confusing. :|
 
Actually, MS has required TS CALS for XP ever since Server 2003 came out. The only XP copies exempted are those that were manufactured before April, 2003 (when Server 2003 was released). If you have any of those, you can request a free TS CAL via a web form.

The choice of Device or User Terminal Server CALS depends on how your office works. Nowadays, many people have more than one computer, so it's cheaper to buy User CALS. Normally, you'd only go with Device CALS if you have many remote Users sharing a few computers.

But, yeah, Terminal Server licenses are messy and, unfortunately, Microsoft enforces those licensing rules.
 
User TS CALs are not enforced by any technical means. However, not having enough user CALs is still a violation of the EULA, and if you are audited, you will get hosed.

But the license server doesn't have any way of enforcing user CALs like it does with device CALs.
 
I didn't realize that User TS CALS weren't enforced by the software. I know I've seen TS Device CAL warnings in Windows Server 2003. Thanks.
 
Microsofts licensing scheme imo is overly complicated for what they are doing.
btw did anybody else notice the cost of Server 2003 went up bigtime? I bought a 2003 license with 5 calls last summer from my VAR for about 550 bucks. Now they want 959 bucks for R2?

 
that R2 on the end cost them 400 a copy to reprint. i paid 479 for Server2k3 and 5cals, now im having to pay that grand for customers too. sucks. (well, retail its a grand... oem still get a nice break)
 
Ok, let me see if i have this straight. If I have 2 users that access the TS, but they never will be on at the same time, I'm still required to purchase 2 TS User CALs? Granted, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with User CALs as I want the users to have the flexibility to TS from whatever computer they'd like.
 
That's correct. Per-user licenses are tied to the user, from a legal standpoint. Even if two users will never use the terminal server at the same time, they cannot share a license.

The general guidance is purchase per-user CALs if you have more devices than users, and purchase per-device CALs if you have more users than devices.
 
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