SQL Server CAL Licencing

[salma]

Hi

I feel that I understand MS CAL licencing whereby any client accessing the server either directly or indirectly requires a CAL (either Device or User CAL or a Processor licence).

However if you export data from SQLServer into a CSV file, is a CAL required for anyone who views that CSV file? They aren't accessing the server, they are only looking at data that originated from SQLServer.

I have read the info at

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/multiplexing.asp

(thank you to the person who posted this link in an earlier thread!) which again seems to indicate that CALs are only required when clients access the server. I have also read the SQLServer and CAL EULAs and searched the web but not found any info for this scenario.

I would be interested in any opinions/answers as this is a fairly typical scenario for my customers

thanks in advance
Salma

 

[JamesLean]

No, I'm sure you don't need a license for viewing the text file (although I have never read anything confirming this explicitly).

The license is for the use of SQL Server itself, you're not licensing the actual data. So even though you're creating a text file using SQL Server (for which you would need a license) once it's created, anyone can view it in that format - it's just another copy of your own data.

--James

 

[salma]

Hi James

Thanks for the quick response. What you say makes perfect sense to me and is how I originally perceived it ... it's just that I've had conflicting answers from different parties!

guess it's one of those grey areas MS love so much

thanks
Salma