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Can you help me with my software licensing question?

I have Microsoft SQL Server 2008 installed on a server. The license is 5 CAL

I have a three tier solution viz database <-> Windows Service <-> User

Multiple Users (More than 5) connects to the single windows service. The windows service than connects with the SQL server, grabs data and then passes it to the users.

Although there are more than 5 users, but only a single application actually connects to the SQL server.

Is this considered as a 1 CAL connection?

Thanks

Community
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user1034912
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3 Answers3

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The licensing docs explicitly mentions multiplexing does not reduce the CAL requirement for end users.

Use of hardware and/or software that reduces the number of devices or users that directly access or use the software (multiplexing/pooling) does not reduce the number of CALs required.

n users = n CALs. If you don't know n then you have to go "per processor"

gbn
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Last time I read the license for SQL Server it specifically stated that any user who uses the data which comes from the SQL Server needs to have a CAL weather they connect directly or indirectly to the SQL Server. (I'm paraphrasing here.) In other words you'll need a CAL for each user or CPU licensees.

mrdenny
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It's hard to say exactly. And you best bet is to talk to your local Microsoft rep.

But based on previous experience, if the windows service is only proxying / multiplexing the connections (which it sounds like it is) then you will need a CAL for each user (or a CPU license etc)

If however the application connects to the database, performs a query, and then disconnects and holds the result in memory, and serves the users based on that in memory cache, then you will only need the one CAL.

Sam
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