Microsoft Licensing: Fundamentals

SOFTWARE ASSURANCE

Software Assurance (SA) is included in many Microsoft Licensing Programs, and is an optional extra purchase in others. SA contains a range of benefits which provide technology, services and support to manage the software lifecycle. Examples include: New version rights Spread payments Windows 7 Enterprise E-Learning and more..

WHAT IS A LICENSE?

Software is intellectual property and licenses provide the right to use the software and define conditions of use. End user rights are covered by the Retail Software License Terms for FPP, the Microsoft Software License Terms for OEM, or for VL the Product Use Rights.

SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGEMENT

Software licenses, however purchased, are an organization's software assets. The management of these is called Software Asset Management (SAM).

Standard and Enterprise CALs

Some server products offer different levels of functionality that can be exposed to users or devices, and there are CALs that correspond to this functionality. The core functionality offered by the server is linked to a Standard CAL. If the extended functionality is utilized, then the purchase of an Enterprise CAL is required in addition to the Standard CAL. Standard and Enterprise CALs can also be used to license External Users.

WAYS TO BUY A LICENSE

1) FULL PACKAGED PRODUCT (FPP) Purchased from retailers Typically 1 box = 1 license. 2) OEM Preinstalled on a new computer The software "lives and dies" on that machine. 3) ONLINE SERVICES Technology is "hosted" on Microsoft's or a hosting partner's servers An alternative to "on-premises" solutions. 4) VOLUME LICENSING Purchased from resellers Different programs to suit all kinds of organizations needing more than 5 licenses.

How to determine the best Microsoft licensing program for the client ?

1) the size of the organization, 2) whether they want perpetual or non-perpetual licenses, 3) whether they want Software Assurance or not, 4) whether they want to standardize the software on all PCs in their organization or not.

MICROSOFT LICENSING PROGRAMS

5-250 pc Programs (Perpetual) 1) open sa optional 2) open value sa included (non company wide) 3) open value sa included ( company wide all PCs) (Non Perpetual) 5-250 pc programs 4) open value subscription sa included (company wide all PCs) More then 250pc (Perpetual) 1) Select sa optional 2) Select plus sa optional 3) Enterprise Agreement sa included (company wide all PCs) (Non Perpetual) More then 250 pc programs 4) Enterprise subscription Agreement sa included (company wide all PCs).

Enterprise CAL Suite

Everything in Core CAL Suite, plus: Exchange Server Enterprise CAL SharePoint Server Enterprise CAL Lync Server Enterprise CAL Windows® Rights Management Services CAL System Center Operations Manager CML System Center Data Protection Manager CML System Center Service Manager CML Forefront Protection Suite SL Forefront Unified Access Gateway CAL

External Connector Licensing

License the server which the external users will access in the usual way, and then purchase an additional External Connector license to license all external users and devices Products to which this model applies include Windows Server 2008 R2 and Exchange Server 2010

DEVICE LICENSES

Products such as Windows 7 and Office 2010 are licensed with device licenses. This means that a license must be acquired for each device on or from which the software is used or accessed (locally or remotely over a network).

Server License and CALs

Purchase a Server license for each server, and Client Access Licenses (CALs) for either users or devices:

Per Processor Licensing

Purchase a license for each processor used by the product in the physical servers. These licenses entitle ALL internal and external devices and users to connect to the server and so there is no requirement for CALs. Products to which this model applies include Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 R2 and Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2010

Management Licensing

Purchase a server license for the Management Server. Managed client devices require Client Management Licenses, and managed servers require either a Standard Server Management License (ML) if running basic workloads or an Enterprise Server Management License if running application workloads.

CAL SUITES

The two CAL suites are Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite, and contain the following CALs:

Core Cal Suite

Windows Server CAL Exchange Server Standard CAL SharePoint Server Standard CAL Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager Client Management License (CML) Lync Server Standard CAL Forefront® Endpoint Protection SL

PERPETUAL vs NON-PERPETUAL LICENSES

With a perpetual license the customer owns the license and can use the software throughout the term of the licensing agreement and forever afterwards. With a non-perpetual license, like a rental agreement, the customer can only use the software throughout the term of the licensing agreement.

Device CAL

is assigned to the device and allows multiple users to use that device

User CAL

is assigned to the user and allows that user to use multiple devices