Licensing: User or device CAL for standalone app computer

[Guest David Walker]

Regarding CALs for Windows Server 2003: The Licensing FAQ has this to say

about user and device CALs:

 

"Q. What is the difference between a device CAL and a user CAL?

 

A. A device CAL permits one device (used by any user) to access the server

software. A user CAL permits one user (using any device) to access the

server software."

 

What about one device used by NO user?

 

We have a computer (running Windows XP) that connects to our domain

controller, and runs standalone, and runs software to receive faxes and e-

mails that are sent to an archive mailbox. All of this happens with no

user intervention (and rarely does any user ever look at the messages in

that mailbox's PST file, and when they do, it's from another computer).

 

No person logs on to this computer, although of course it has a logon

username to connect to the domain.

 

So would this computer be counted as "one" whether it's a device CAL or a

user CAL? The Q&As don't seem to cover unattended computers at all.

 

We're going to upgrade the server/domain controller from Windows 2000

server to Windows 2003 server, so I want to make sure we know how to count!

 

Thanks.

 

David Walker

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Licensing: User or device CAL for standalone app computer

 

David Walker <none@none.com> wrote:

> Regarding CALs for Windows Server 2003: The Licensing FAQ has this

> to say about user and device CALs:

>

> "Q. What is the difference between a device CAL and a user CAL?

>

> A. A device CAL permits one device (used by any user) to access the

> server software. A user CAL permits one user (using any device) to

> access the server software."

>

> What about one device used by NO user?

>

> We have a computer (running Windows XP) that connects to our domain

> controller, and runs standalone, and runs software to receive faxes

> and e- mails that are sent to an archive mailbox. All of this

> happens with no user intervention (and rarely does any user ever look

> at the messages in that mailbox's PST file, and when they do, it's

> from another computer).

>

> No person logs on to this computer, although of course it has a logon

> username to connect to the domain.

>

> So would this computer be counted as "one" whether it's a device CAL

> or a user CAL? The Q&As don't seem to cover unattended computers at

> all.

>

> We're going to upgrade the server/domain controller from Windows 2000

> server to Windows 2003 server, so I want to make sure we know how to

> count!

>

> Thanks.

>

> David Walker

 

I'd presume it's a device CAL. But you should contact MS or your reseller

directly for any/all licensing questions.