windows 2003 & 2000 CALs

[Mshen]

Hi there,

I am counting window user cals for a company.

Their domain have windows 2003 std, and windows 2000 std servers.

can they use windows 2003 and 2000 users cals interchangably? from a licensing point of view.

any input welcome.

many thanks in advance.

mike

 

[LWComputingMVP]

2003 CALs will typically cover connections to 2000 servers... but 2000 CALs CANNOT be used to connect to 2003 servers.

 

[millertime79]

From my understanding The cals are not interchangeable.
Consult with your volume licencing vendor or microsoft for a more accurate decision. I remember looking into this about a year ago and I was informed 2k cals are not interchangeable.

Derek

 

[LWComputingMVP]

2003 CALs should cover (through "downgrade rights") 2000 servers, but 2000 CALs do not cover 2003 server.

 

[Mshen]

thanks for the replies.

Their domain/forest have ten 2003 user CALs, and ten server 2000 user CALs.

there are 22 users.

Do they need to buy 12 2003 user Cals to stay legal? will the other ten 2000 users cals wasted?

regards

mike

 

[Davetoo]

To be safe, yes, purchase 12 2003 CAL's and they have no concerns. If only ten users are connecting to a 2003 server at a time and ten to a 2000 server and two aren't connecting to anything, they're legal now. But CAL's are cheap...why risk it? Just buy 12 2003's and move on to the next project. ;-)

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

 

[Mshen]

many thanks for the help!

you guys have a nice weekend!!!!!