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DennisMCSE
Moderator
Canada
2400 Posts
Status: offline |
 Posted - 03/21/2012 : 1:23:42 PM
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We're doing a true-up of our Microsoft licenses for our Enterprise Agreement. Seems we're set up based on Device CAL's not User CAL's. Based on Device, so that means that any device connecting to a Microsoft server (for DNS, DHCP, etc.) requires a CAL. What is a device defined as? Only Windows devices? Or anything, regardless of the OS, requires a CAL? If some manufacturing test equipment, that doesn't have a Microsoft OS on it, uses DNS on the Microsoft server, I assume that needs a CAL as well? Seems our count of "devices" on our network is a lot more than I was expecting.
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DennisMCSE
Blog: http://itprofirewalker.wordpress.com/
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/Firewalker96
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Jazzy
Administrator
Netherlands
1932 Posts
Status: offline |
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pdegroot
Welcome Newcomer
1 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 03/26/2012 : 3:41:03 PM
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Dennis,
You'll find these definitions in the language of your Enterprise Agreement. They're relevant to your situation. The first answers your question about what is a "device"? In an EA, the relevant term is "qualified desktop." To be counted, a PC or other device need to be able to run "enterprise products," which in an EA are Windows, Office, and access to servers that require CALs, like Exchange and Sharepoint. In general, devices that consume low-level network services like DHCP, but that have an embedded OS (or no OS at all) don't need to be counted. One exception is a device like that used to access a virtual desktop. An example would be an iPad that connects to Remote Desktop Services (formerly Terminal Services) to run Office or to send/receive mail using Outloook. It has an embedded OS, but when it connects to a virtual desktop or session via RDS/RDP, it loses its exemption and needs to be counted. Another exception is Industry Devices and that's a long convoluted definition. Generally, it's stuff like a CAD workstation, a point-of-sale device, etc. that isn't used with Office, for browsing the Web, and so on.
Here's the "Qualified Desktop" paragraph from the EA:
“Qualified Desktop” means any personal desktop computer, portable computer, workstation, or similar device that is used by or for the benefit of an Enrolled Affiliate or any Affiliate included in its Enterprise and that meets the minimum requirements for running any of the Enterprise Products. Qualified Desktops do not include: (1) any computer that is designated as a server and not used as a personal computer, (2) Industry Devices, or (3) any device running an embedded operating system (e.g., Windows Vista for embedded, Windows XP embedded) that does not access a virtual desktop infrastructure.
When you're counting users, MS uses this definition of a "Qualified User:
“Qualified User” means a person who (1) is a user of a Qualified Desktop or (2) accesses any server software or online services licensed within an Enrolled Affiliate's Enterprise.
Paul DeGroot |
Principal Consultant
Pica Communications
www.picacommunications.com
"Solving the Microsoft Licensing puzzle" |
Edited by - pdegroot on 03/26/2012 3:42:01 PM |
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Another Microsoft licensing question
