Confused with User/Device License CALS

[Guest Alex]

Hi. We are currently building a new system with 20 servers (2003 Std R2),

10 workstations (XP) and ~30 users. The servers and workstations will only

be making use of Active Directory for authentication and file sharing,

therefore we plan on buying 15 User/Device Cals, 10 for the Workstations and

5 for five servers which access other servers for file access. All servers

will be configured with Per Seat Licensing Mode.

 

I'm slightly confused what we then need to do with the licenses. Do we add

them to the License snap-in on the DC's ? I've looked at the License snap-in

and can see how to add a User/Device CALs but how does the system know

whether to allocate the CAL for a user or a device i.e with the above number

of workstations and users, if every user was allocated a CAL rather than the

device they are logging on with, we would be 15 licenses short ?

 

Can anyone also confirm that a Server accessing file shares on another share

will require a Device CAL, or at least a user CAL for the user account

logged onto a server accessing another server ?

 

Thanks,

Alex.

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Confused with User/Device License CALS

 

Alex <email@microsoftnews.c.o.m> wrote:

> Hi. We are currently building a new system with 20 servers (2003

> Std R2), 10 workstations (XP) and ~30 users. The servers and

> workstations will only be making use of Active Directory for

> authentication and file sharing, therefore we plan on buying 15

> User/Device Cals, 10 for the Workstations and 5 for five servers

> which access other servers for file access. All servers will be

> configured with Per Seat Licensing Mode.

> I'm slightly confused what we then need to do with the licenses. Do

> we add them to the License snap-in on the DC's ? I've looked at the

> License snap-in and can see how to add a User/Device CALs but how

> does the system know whether to allocate the CAL for a user or a

> device i.e with the above number of workstations and users, if every

> user was allocated a CAL rather than the device they are logging on

> with, we would be 15 licenses short ?

> Can anyone also confirm that a Server accessing file shares on

> another share will require a Device CAL, or at least a user CAL for

> the user account logged onto a server accessing another server ?

>

> Thanks,

> Alex.

 

 

20 servers for 30 users? I sure hope that's a typo!

 

Honestly, as licensing can be an arcane science, I suggest you contact

Microsoft directly (or a trusted reseller) for any and all questions about

MS licensing requirements.

 

To the best of my knowledge you can'tmix and match user/device CALs - you

have to pick.

 

To answer the "how do you keep track" question - you should stop/disable the

license logging service on your servers, and keep track of your licenses

manually (spreadsheets, but also paper in a file folder). The license

logging service is buggy and not mandatory.

[Guest Saral6978]

Re: Confused with User/Device License CALS

 

You have to pick what kind of licensing you want. If you install them, they

will install as Device or User CALS and the system knows what to track, but

then you don't have to install them at all. Obviously you want to purchase

the correct licensing and if you only have 10 workstation that 30 users share,

then you want Device CALS. If your servers are in Per Seat mode, which is

what you want to be in usually with multiple servers, you only need that

one user or device CAL for accessing all servers in your domain. So, that

person or device could use resources on different servers without violating

the licensing. Although, not having the exact # of licensing is not going

to stop someone from accessing anything, that is why you can safely shut

off and disable the Licensing service. For example, if you purchase 30 User

CALs and eventually end up with 40 Users, all 40 users can access the resources

at the same time without an issue. I think the only time I've seen licensing

enforced by the system and where it has to be install on the system, is in

SBS Server 2003 - it actually does prevent more than the allowed licensed

users or devices from accessing network resources. I do suggest as well

to keep track of them manually and shut down the licesning service.

 

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

Sara

 

Hello Alex,

> Hi. We are currently building a new system with 20 servers (2003 Std

> R2), 10 workstations (XP) and ~30 users. The servers and workstations

> will only be making use of Active Directory for authentication and

> file sharing, therefore we plan on buying 15 User/Device Cals, 10 for

> the Workstations and 5 for five servers which access other servers for

> file access. All servers will be configured with Per Seat Licensing

> Mode.

>

> I'm slightly confused what we then need to do with the licenses. Do

> we add them to the License snap-in on the DC's ? I've looked at the

> License snap-in and can see how to add a User/Device CALs but how does

> the system know whether to allocate the CAL for a user or a device i.e

> with the above number of workstations and users, if every user was

> allocated a CAL rather than the device they are logging on with, we

> would be 15 licenses short ?

>

> Can anyone also confirm that a Server accessing file shares on another

> share will require a Device CAL, or at least a user CAL for the user

> account logged onto a server accessing another server ?

>

> Thanks,

> Alex.