I’m about to upgrade our servers and I’m having trouble trying to understand Microsoft’s licencing for servers.
We have a simple NT4.0 Domain with 4 servers (each with a Domino Server). Of my users, the majority are external mobile users with Notes clients who use the servers simply to replicate our Notes Apps and for Notes mail. (ie, no authentication with NT etc).
Do I need CAL’s for each user, or only those that are internal using the NT Domain?
TIA
Phil
Subject: Windows Server Licencing & Domino
I’m not Microsoft…but we have had this discussion with them many times. Unless you are using NT/Win2K/Win2K3 for authentication services, the user does not need a Windows CAL.
–Ed / IBM Lotus Software
Subject: Windows Server Licencing & Domino
We’ve been back and forth with our vendor on this issue as well. If you read the MS web page, it would indicate that yes, you need a Windows CAL, but I would go with Ed Brill’s answer.
Can you imagine the mass migrations to Linux if MS started requiring CALs for Domino access?
Subject: Please, point us to that page…
Subject: RE: Please, point us to that page…
For Win2K, the license FAQ is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/pricing/faq.asp
and points to this definition of “authenticated user” for the purpose of CALs:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/pricing/model.asp#heading2
The CAL issue clearly relies on Windows authentication (as opposed to authentication via a non-Microsoft server-based application, like a certain groupware, collaboration and messaging platform with which you may be familiar).
The situation for Win2.003K is somewhat less clear, but seems to say pretty much the same thing in a more obscure fashion – although they do leave a lot of room for voluntary CAL payments from those inclined to send them a cheque:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/howtobuy/licensing/caloverview.mspx