Client access licensing requirements have changed for Windows Small
Business Server 2003. In previous versions of Small Business Server, CALs were
activated when a workstation used particular server services, such as print,
remote access, and authenticated access. (Authenticated access is defined as an
exchange of user or program credentials between the server software and a user
or device.)
With Windows Small Business Server 2003, use of server
services does not activate CALs. Instead use of CALs is based on access to
and/or use of the server software.
A general exception to Windows Small
Business Server 2003 CAL requirements is that CALs are not required when the
server software is accessed through the Internet by an unauthenticated user. An
example of this exception is unidentified users browsing your public Web site.
Windows Small Business Server 2003 CALs are not required for those
users.
Device-Based vs. User-Based Windows Small Business Server 2003
CALs
With the release of Windows Small Business Server 2003 as part of the
Windows Server family of products, two types of Windows Small Business Server
2003 CALs are available to choose from device-based or user-based, known as
device CALs or user CALs. This choice means you can either purchase a CAL for
every device (used by any user) that accesses your server, or purchase a CAL for
every named user that accesses your servers (from any device). Devices include
not only desktop workstations in your office but also mobile phones that have
Internet access, handheld PCs, and remote workstations. Whichever type of CAL
you choose, a separate Windows Small Business Server 2003 CAL (of either type)
is required for each user or device that accesses or uses the server software on
any of your servers.
Device CALs might make most economic and
administrative sense for an organization that has multiple users for one device,
such as shift workers.
User CALs might make most sense for an
organization that has many roaming employees who access the corporate network
from unknown devices and/or employees who access the network through multiple
devices.
The number of Windows Small Business Server 2003 CALs required
equals the maximum number of users or devices that may simultaneously access or
use the server software installed on a particular server. The Windows Small
Business Server 2003 CALs that you purchase are designated for use exclusively
with a particular server.
You have the right to switch one time to the
other license type from user CALs to device CALs or from device CALs to user
CALs. Your Windows Small Business Server 2003 CALs (of either type) would then
be used in the other mode instead.
Windows Small Business Server 2003
licensing is roughly equivalent to the Per Server mode available in Windows
Server 2003. This mode tends to be the most economical for Windows CALs in
computing environments in which a small number of servers have limited access
requirements.