New Options for Microsoft Server Licensing: Introducing User-Based CALs with Windows Terminal Server 2003 CALs

In a significant move aimed at addressing the diverse needs of businesses and organizations, Microsoft has introduced new options for licensing its server products. One of these innovative options is the Core License Agreement (CAL) with user-based rights, also known as the Core User CAL. This new option will be available starting April 2003, along with the introduction of the User CAL and External Connector License options.

The Core User CAL offers a cost-effective solution for businesses that require user-based licensing or need to grant access to licensed server software to business partners and end-customers. Traditionally, Microsoft's licensing model was based on device-based rights, where organizations were required to purchase a CAL for each device accessing the server products. However, with the increasing trend of users accessing server resources from multiple devices, the User CAL option fills this gap.

The User CAL is licensed to an individual user who can access server products from any number of devices, eliminating the need for separate CALs for each device. This approach benefits organizations that have more users than devices, allowing them to streamline their licensing costs and simplify their IT infrastructure management.

On the other hand, Device CALs are still available and benefit organizations with more devices than users. In this scenario, a single CAL is licensed to an individual device that accesses Microsoft server products, regardless of the number of users accessing it.

The introduction of User CALs marks a significant departure from the traditional Server CAL-based licensing model. This change is expected to be reflected in future versions of Microsoft's server products, with SQL Server 2000 being the first to introduce the User CAL option in May 2003.

In December 2002, Microsoft announced these new options for licensing its server products, which aim to provide greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness for businesses. The Windows Terminal Server 2003 CALs are an important part of this strategy, offering a user-based licensing model that better aligns with the evolving needs of organizations.

As businesses continue to adapt to the changing IT landscape, Microsoft's innovative approach to server licensing is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of server management and deployment. With the introduction of User CALs and other new options for licensing Microsoft server products, businesses can now enjoy greater flexibility, cost savings, and improved IT infrastructure management.

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