How does SBS licensing work?

[outonalimb]

I am looking to purchase SBS 2003 R2. However, I have some questions to how it is licensed and how the licensing is enforced.

I have 6 client PC's at my office. I know if I buy the standard retail pack it ships with 5 CAL's. Does this mean my sixth user will be denied access to the server or will it still work without me buying the extra 5 CAL license pack?

Can someone please explain how the licensing is enforced? I know running without the extra licenses is illegal, but is it enforced?

Regards,

 

[PHV]

running without the extra licenses is illegal, but it is not enforced (only message box on the console).

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[58sniper]

Not only is it illegal, but you'd find a strange lack of support here (and elsewhere). You'd need to buy more CALs. Period.

Last I heard, it's about $20,000 for an audit infraction involving under-licensing.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[outonalimb]

Okay, okay. I just wanted to know how enforced it was. I have just purchased the retail pack and an extra pack of 5 CAL's - of which 4 will not be used.

You can understand my frustration at not being able to buy just one CAL instead of having to shell out £310/$550 on a 5 user pack. You might argue that we might expand but this is unlikely in the medium term.

Thanks for you help.

 

[smah]

I know that you've said that you have 6 client pc's... do you also have 6 users?

 

[TechSoEasyMVP]

Actually, I do understand your frustration... but you probably wouldn't be frustrated if you knew that there were other ways to get licensing which don't require you to buy a 5-pack.

If you are going to be getting Office 2003 or if any of your workstations are not at least XP Pro and would need to be upgraded, then you should definitely look at the Microsoft - Small Business Desktop Advantage license.

The Small Business Platform SKU provides all of the following for every PC in the company:

• Office 2007 Small Business Edition License
• Small Business Server 2003 R2 Client Access License
• Windows Vista Business
• 3 years of Software Assurance benefits for all of the above

Info on it is here:

https://www.microsoftincentives.com/SmallBizSKU/

Payments for this license can be spread over three years without interest.

Talk to your licensing advisor about
Part # B6K-00052 is the Small Business Platform SKU with the three year spread payments
Part # B6K-00050 is the Small Business Platform SKU paid up front

Jeff
TechSoEasy

 

[twwabw]

LOL- MS Software "Open Value"- kind of an oxymoron. For the low low price of $922.00, you can "use" XP Pro; your SBS cal; and MS Office SBE for 3 years. Going to keep that PC more than 3 years? No problem- just ante up another $560 per PC.

Or, you could buy your new PC with XP Pro installed for about $150 retail added to the PC at most; buy Office SBE at no more than a $300 premium; and have an SBS cal for app $100. That = $600 total- forever!

This is another lucrative scheme for MS to continue the revenue stream. Do the math.