CAL licensing question

[mydogbites]

Hi there,

Do you need to have a CAL license to browse a serves files?

I ask because i am looking to purchase a copy of server 2003 that around 20 people would access at anyone time and am not sure what the cheapest option would be.

Thanks

James

 

[porkchopexpress]

You require a CAL to make a connection of any kind to a server.

 

[porkchopexpress]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/howtobuy/licensing/overview.mspx

 

[mydogbites]

Ok cheers for that

If our license server is our DC at one site and is running windows server 2000. If I upgrade that server to windows server 2003, do you know if I will have to re-buy all the CAL licenses as well?

Cheers

James

 

[porkchopexpress]

I'm pretty sure if you have Windows 2000 CAL's then you will need to buy 2003 CAL's when you upgrade.

 

[Davetoo]

Yes, you will. Sucks, but thems the rules. Your 2000 CAL's are only good for 2000 and previous versions, i.e. they are backwards compatible, but not forwards compatible.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[mydogbites]

Hmmmm balls, probably work out cheaper just to add another DC to the domain and just keep the 2000 server running in the background

Thanks for your help

 

[Davetoo]

Not sure on pricing, but it seems 20 CAL's would be cheaper than another server?

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.