Client licenses cal. Where to buy Windows Server client licenses (Server CALs)

Microsoft offers its to corporative clients a convenient option for managing client access licenses for basic server products that make up the enterprise infrastructure - Core CAL Suite (Client Access License). Microsoft Core CAL is a set of CAL licenses for products such as:

• Microsoft Exchange Server CAL.
• Microsoft SharePoint Server.
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager.
• Microsoft Lync Server.
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2.
• Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection.

Number of purchased sets Microsoft Core CAL should be equal to the number of PCs on which it is planned to use the software from this list. There is no similar set of server licenses. Core CAL Suite is available through Volume Licensing programs only as items that include Software Assurance. The cost of Core CAL Suite is 15% less than the sum of the costs of its components, and with standardization, savings can be up to 35%.

Delivery options

Boxed version- delivery in the form of a box includes a software distribution kit on a DVD in English or Russian, a certificate of authenticity and license agreement. Purchasing Microsoft software in a boxed version is in a simple way purchasing the product for private clients and small organizations (up to 5 users).

Microsoft Open License Program (OLP)- OLP volume licensing program provides perpetual rights to use current and previous versions of products. Along with the licenses, you can purchase a subscription to the Microsoft Software Assurance (SA) support program, which provides the right to update the software to new versions and some additional benefits (packages of free services and tools) for a period of 24 months.

At the end of 24 months, individual SA renewal licenses can be purchased. The product use rights granted by OLP licenses are set forth in the official Microsoft Product Use Rights (PUR). The minimum initial order is 5 OLP licenses for any products. Subsequent orders within two years can be for any number of licenses.

After purchasing an OLP license for Microsoft Office Word on the Microsoft VLSC website, the buyer is given access to the keys and installation file for current and previous versions of the product (access opens in approximately 2 business days).

Comparison table of OLP licenses and boxed versions

So, how are server products licensed? The topic is very complex, so we will try to explain it with a specific example.

Let's say that there is a company with a small PC fleet of about 5 workstations on which it is installed licensed Windows Vista, (one must take into account the fact that the license for operating system does not give any rights to connect to the server). The company needed to purchase a server; they decided to install Windows Server Standard 2008 on this server; accordingly, the company will need to purchase a license for Windows Server Standard itself, and in order to gain access to this server, client licenses (CAL - Client Access License) are needed. Since the company has 5 PCs, 5 client licenses will be needed.

Let's assume that after some time the company needs to install another server, say Windows Server Enterprise 2008. In this case, the company will only need to purchase a license for Windows Server Enterprise 2008 itself; in this case, there is no need to purchase additional client licenses, since all 5 workstations already have Windows Server CAL licenses. CALs for Windows Server give the right to connect to any of the Standard and Enterprise editions, but one more important fact must be taken into account that the CAL version must be no lower than the version of the server to which the connection is being made. Example: using client licenses for Windows Server CAL 2008, you can connect to Windows Server 2003, but not vice versa, with the exception of using Windows Server CAL 2003, you can connect to Windows Server 2003 R2. Now let's assume that Exchange Server 2007 is installed on one of the servers, so you will have to purchase a license for Exchange Server itself and Exchange Server CAL for five PCs.

One more point: in the delivery of OEM and boxed versions, client licenses are included in the delivery set of 5 pieces for corporate licenses, OLPs are purchased separately.

There is another license option - Terminal CAL - licenses are intended for terminal access. Let's try to figure it out using an example: let's say a company decided to expand its PC fleet and purchase 5 more thin clients (terminals) to save money and space (more information about thin clients can be found on the Internet). In this case, the company will have to purchase 5 more Windows Server CALs and 5 Terminal CALs, because the latter give the right only to connect terminals.

There are two types of client licenses: “per user” (user CAL) and “per device” (device CAL). The most common CAL is “per device”, that is, the device itself is licensed to connect to the server, and many employees can connect from this device to the server. The second option, a “per user” license, is beneficial in cases where the number of employees who need access to the server is limited, say, 20 PCs and only two employees need access. In this case, it will be more profitable to purchase 2 client licenses, and these two employees will be able to connect to the server from any PC, but only these two employees who are assigned a user license. It is fixed by an order for the enterprise, otherwise during verification you will not be able to prove that only two employees connect to the server.

Multiplexing.

The concept of multiplexing is extremely difficult to explain to a non-technical person, but let’s try to explain it with a specific example. Let's imagine two servers connected to each other, let's call them C1 and C2. A company needs to install SQL Server and provide 10 employees with a database and, accordingly, the company wants to save on purchasing client licenses. What they do: install SQL Server on C2, and some free database on C1 that does not require any client licenses. As a result, it turns out that the main database lies on SQL Server, which is installed on C2, and employees actually access C1, which in turn receives a request, takes data from C2 and sends it to the client, i.e. works as an intermediary and thus 10 employees connect to SQL Server for free.

This C1 - an intermediary switch - is a multiplexer, and this circuit is prohibited and, if verified, will entail criminal liability under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The rules clearly state that multiplexing and intermediate equipment does not affect either the licensing rules or the number of licenses.

Let's summarize: to provide 10 employees with SQL Server, you will need 10 SQL Server CALs.

External Connector.

Let's try to understand what an External Connector is using a specific example.

In this case best example may be the need to create an online store. Let's imagine that a certain company decided to open an online store or some kind of information portal to provide goods or services to its company. In this case, you will have to provide access to external users to your resources and this requires all appropriate client licenses for each connection. It is necessary to calculate exactly how many client licenses will be needed in a given period of time, in principle, it is impossible, since we do not know how many clients will simultaneously access the online store, and purchasing many client licenses at once to ensure that there are enough is simply not profitable. This is where the External Connector is needed - this is a license for unlimited connection to the server, that is, instead of huge amount client licenses, you can purchase one External Connector.

But there is one nuance here: only external users who are not employees of the company can connect via the External Connector in any form. Those. in our case, only clients of the online store can connect.

Processor licensing.

Now let's look at licensing per processor and look at the example of the most common server product that is licensed per processor - SQL Server.

What is the best way to license SQL Server? The standard option applies here: you can license the server itself and purchase the required number of client licenses for it, but you can also buy a processor license.

Let's imagine again physical server, on which we are going to install SQL Server and connect five users to it, which we will need for this, in addition to a license for Windows Server and client licenses for it. Since we will be installing SQL on Windows Server, we will consider the option of licensing SQL Server itself. So, in a situation where we need to connect five users, we purchase a license for SQL Server itself and, accordingly, five client licenses for it SQL Server CAL. This scheme is beneficial when you need to connect a small number of users. Now suppose that we need to connect 100 users to SQL Server, in this case it is not economically profitable to buy a license for the server itself and for 100 client connections, in this case it will be profitable to buy a license for the processor and then we will not need a license for SQL Server itself and no client licenses are required, since the processor license includes a license for the server itself and for an unlimited number of client connections, both internal and external.

That is, the physical processor itself, the hardware itself, is licensed, regardless of the number of processor cores. The following server products are licensed under this scheme:

Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006

Microsoft Commerce Server 2007

Under this model, a network based on Microsoft server products requires at least one server license and usually more Client Access Licenses (CALs).

Server license- this is a document (not software), which:

• Required for every server running Microsoft server software.
• Gives the licensee the right to use (install and operate) Microsoft server software on one server.

Client Access License- an official document (not software) giving the user the right to access a server on the network.

Client license required:

• To access the server from a device on the network or remotely, regardless of the OS used.
• To use basic server services (for more information, see the individual product descriptions in the following sections).

External connector license- an official document (not software) that gives the right to external users (customers and business partners) of a company to access the organization's server software services.

CAL types

There are “per device” and “per user” CALs.

Device CAL	User CAL
Allows anyone number of users to access server software with one device	Allows one user access server software from any number of devices.
This type is most profitable and convenient to administer for those organizations where several users, for example in shifts, work on one device.	This type is most beneficial and easy to administer for those organizations with many mobile employees who need access to the corporate network from arbitrary devices, or employees who use multiple devices to access the network.

Client Access Licensing Schemes

There are several ways to provide client access to server software: per-device or per-user CALs, limiting the number of simultaneous connections to the server, and using an External Connector license for unlimited connection of external users.

Per device or per user licensing means that the license applies to a single device or user using a server application located on any server on the network. This method is often used in a network with multiple servers and is offered for all of the above server products. With this licensing scheme, the total number of CALs must be equal to the total number of client PCs or users on the network.

Limiting the number of connections to the server(“per server” or “per server” licensing mode) means that the required number of client licenses is equal to the maximum number of devices or users simultaneously accessing a particular server at any given time. Once the maximum number of concurrent access sessions is reached, other devices or users attempting to access services on this server will not be able to do so. This licensing method is more suitable for a network with one server, rarely used basic functions server or in case remote access to the server, for CD-ROM servers, or other server solutions that take into account non-standard use of the server. (Keep in mind, however, that each computer may be running multiple applications at the same time, accessing different servers on the network.) Therefore, the number of CALs purchased for each server must be equal to the maximum possible number of simultaneous connections to the server. This client access licensing scheme applies only to Microsoft Windows Server.



Licensing using External Connector eliminates the need to count and purchase individual client licenses for each business partner or end user of the organization and allows you to provide access to server software to an unlimited number of non-employees. The External Connector license is not available to employees, external contractors, agents, service providers, or others performing services on behalf of the organization (or affiliates, if any). An External Connector license must be purchased for each copy of the server software. Therefore, the number of External Connector licenses must equal the number of servers accessed by external users or devices.

When is it more profitable to purchase client licenses?	When is it more profitable to purchase External Connector?
This type is most beneficial if the organization has a small number of customers and partners and it is not difficult to count them.	This type is most beneficial if the organization has a large number of customers and partners with authenticated access to the server.
This scheme can also be more profitable if the organization has a large number of servers.	This model is also used in cases where the number of external users or devices is difficult or impossible to count.

Server license and client access license version

The server software and client license are identified by a specific version number. A client access license allows you to access a server program with the same (or lower) version number. For example, an Exchange 2007 CAL can be used to access Exchange Server 2003, but not vice versa.

The same client access licenses are used to access server services of any edition. For example, a Windows 2008 CAL or a Windows price The 2008 External Connector can be used to both access Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Server Standard Edition and access Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition.

Using software or hardware multiplexers for client access

The use of software or hardware that reduces the number of devices directly accessing server services does not affect the need to purchase client access licenses (CALs). The required number of CALs is equal to the total number of devices at the input of such a device. In the example below, three CALs are required to be purchased, even though only one device is directly connected to the server:



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Microsoft Windows Server Client Licenses (Server CAL)

Name	Price, RUR per piece	Comments
Windows Server CAL 2019 Device License	1762	OLP (corporate registered delivery). Only for organizations and individual entrepreneurs. Delivery time: electronic access to licenses is provided within 2 days. Within another 2 days, shipment according to accounting documents takes place along with the provision of a license on paper and license stickers. NDS is not appearing.
Windows Server CAL 2019 User License	2236


See also: Windows Server 2019 and terminal licenses for Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2019 Client Access License (Server CAL) grants the user or device the right to access the server software.

A Windows Server 2019 CAL is required if the user or device accesses or uses Windows Server server software. However, if access is over the Internet and is anonymous (for example, when browsing a public Web site), this license is not required. Additionally, an organization can purchase External Connector licenses to license access for external users. Additionally, Windows Server CALs are not required if Windows Server 2019 is used solely as a virtualization host, except in configurations that use virtualization Windows machines Server that require Windows Server CALs. For example, if virtual machines running Windows Server 2003 are deployed on a server running Windows control Server 2008, users virtual machines do not require Windows Server 2008 CALs. However, they do require CALs for editions of Windows Server deployed on virtual machines(in this case, Windows Server 2003).

Is a Server CAL necessary if the user only occasionally uses certain server software protocols or services (for example, Network Access Protection or DHCP)?

Yes. A Windows CAL is required to access and use server software, regardless of frequency.

What is the difference between Windows Server CALs and Terminal Services CALs (terminal licenses)?

If a user or device directly or indirectly accesses Windows Server, they need a Windows Server CAL. Additionally, if a user or device accesses or uses Windows Server Terminal Services, you must purchase a Terminal Services CAL in addition to the CAL. In this case, up to two users or devices can access the server software solely for administrative purposes, without using Terminal Services CALs or Windows Server CALs.

CAL = Client Access License, i.e. Client Access License (Client License)

Microsoft software is often licensed under the Server+CAL model (Server License + Client Access License). In this case:

• A server license is required for each running instance of the product, and
• A client license (CAL) is required for each user or device that has access to the Server or uses any functions/services/services of the server

CALs for the same product do not need to be duplicated. Those. Regardless of how many Windows Servers are installed and running in an organization, only one Windows Server CAL is needed per user or device.

Client licenses must be purchased for all products used. That is, for example, if an organization uses Windows Server and Exchange Server, then client licenses must be purchased for both Windows Server and Exchange Server. The quantity may vary.

Each User CAL or Device CAL must be permanently assigned to a user or device, respectively. CALs can only be reassigned if the user is absent or the device is inoperable.

"Per User" or "Per Device"

Device client license (Device CAL). If there are fewer devices in an organization than users (for example, several people work in shifts at one computer) or the devices are easier to account for, then it is better to purchase Device CAL.

User Client License (User CAL). If your organization has fewer users than devices (for example, many users have desktop computer and a laptop) or users are easier to take into account, it is better to purchase a User CAL.

Previously, the price for User CAL and Device CAL was the same. But the world is changing, devices are becoming cheaper, labor is becoming more expensive. The practice of using a large number by one user different devices is already widespread. Apparently, in connection with this, since December 2012, Microsoft has raised prices for User CAL.

The choice of User CAL or Device CAL must be approached carefully, because You can exchange one license for another only when updating your SA subscription. Which licenses to buy - User CAL or Device CAL - each organization decides for itself.

Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite

Client licenses must be purchased for each product used. If an organization uses a small number of Microsoft products (for example, only Windows Server), then it is more profitable to purchase only CALs for Windows Server. If your organization uses a large number of Microsoft products, then it may be more profitable to buy them all together in one Core CAL Suite or Enterprise CAL Suite.

Core CAL Suite includes client licenses:

• Microsoft Windows Server CAL
• Microsoft SharePoint Server Standard CAL
• Microsoft Exchange Server Standard CAL
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Client Management License
• Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection (antivirus client and subscription service)
• Microsoft Lync Server Standard CAL

Enterprise CAL Suite includes client licenses:

• All licenses included in Core CAL Suite
• Microsoft Exchange Server Enterprise CAL
• Microsoft SharePoint Server Enterprise CAL
• Microsoft Lync Server Enterprise CAL
• Microsoft Windows Server Active Directory Rights Management Services CAL

Remote Desktop Services CAL

Remote Desktop Services CAL (licenses for accessing the desktop on the server - formerly “terminal” licenses)
Needed for those users or devices that will connect to the desktop on the server via RDP (terminal connection).