Cals needed for AD only?

[lemmas]

I have several computers that are purely for internet access only. Some are kiosks and some have full internet access. I would like to use AD to have better granularity on group policies. Do I need cals for these computers if they only use the server for AD, dns and dhcp? There are no other services used.

I found this vague quote from Microsoft's website concerning cals: "..Windows CALs are required when accessing or using the server software."

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sam/lic...003_server.mspx

Is AD considered 'server software'?

Thanks,

Nick

[fizban2]

Licensing overiew for Server 2003

Changes in Use Rights for Windows Server 2003

Microsoft is pleased to introduce new licensing options to address customer business needs and to complement the technical capabilities of our Windows Server 2003 products. This is part of a broad effort to improve the customer experience with licensing Microsoft software and our ongoing effort to make licensing more consistent, predictable, and flexible for our customers.

These new options are designed to provide customers with an enhanced ability to license Microsoft server products in a consistent manner across our product line. The new options will be particularly beneficial to those who seek user-based licensing, those who would like to provide server access to their end-customers or partners, or those who run solutions that leverage multiple Microsoft server products.

These changes to the Microsoft licensing program will first be available with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 product release.

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The Windows Server Licensing Model—Elements That Have Not Changed

Although there have been changes to the Windows Server 2003 licensing model, the following elements have not changed:

• Every installed copy of the server software requires the purchase of a Windows server license.

• A Windows Server 2003 Client Access License (Windows CAL) is required in order to access or use the server software.

• A Windows CAL is not required if access to the server software is via the Internet and is "unauthenticated"—for example, accessing a Web site for general information where no identifying credentials are exchanged.

• A Terminal Server Client Access License (TS CAL) is required for Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition to use Terminal Server or otherwise host a remote graphical user interface (GUI) session, except for a console session. In Windows 2000, there was an exception to this licensing requirement and that will change with this release, as outlined below.

• A Terminal Server Client Access License (TS CAL) is required to use Terminal Server or otherwise host a remote graphical user interface (GUI) session, except for a console session. In Windows 2000, there was an exception to this licensing requirement and that will change with this release, as outlined below.

• A Datacenter Terminal Server Client Access License (TS CAL) is required for Datacenter Edition to use Terminal Server or otherwise host a remote graphical user interface (GUI) session, except for a console session.

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Changes to Windows Server 2003 Licensing

The following reflects changes to the Windows Server 2003 licensing requirements:

• New user-based CAL. Microsoft is introducing a new type of Windows CAL. In addition to existing device-based CALs (Device CAL), a user-based CAL (User CAL) will be available for purchase. You can choose to purchase a Windows Device CAL for every device accessing your servers, or you can purchase a Windows User CAL for every named user accessing your servers. By having two types of Windows CALs, you are able to use the model that makes sense for your organization. For example, purchasing a Windows User CAL might make more sense if your company has a need for employees to have roaming access using multiple devices. Windows Device CALs may make more sense if your company has multiple-shift workers who share devices. Similarly, Terminal Server (TS) will offer both device-based and user-based CALs: TS Device CAL and TS User CAL.

• New name for Per Seat licensing mode and expanded usage right. The two CAL licensing modes that exist in Windows 2000 Server still exist, but one of the modes has a new name: The Per Seat mode has been changed to the "Per Device or Per User" mode, and Windows User CALs can be applied. The name of the Per Server mode has not changed, and the rights associated with each of the modes have essentially not changed. Per Device or Per User mode is concerned with the total number of devices or users (or a combination of devices and users) accessing the server software across any number of servers, at any time. In this mode, you need a Windows CAL for every device or user that will be accessing Windows Server. In Per Device or Per User mode, only one Windows CAL is needed for any given device or user to access Windows Server, regardless of which servers it is accessing. Per Server mode is concerned with the number of concurrent connections to the server software. You need to purchase Windows CALs for the maximum number of simultaneous connections to that server. Any device or user can access the server, but the number of simultaneous access connections hitting the server at any given time must not exceed the number of Windows CALs designated to that server.

• New External Connector License option. The new External Connector license (EC) can be purchased to enable access to your servers instead of buying individual Windows CALs for external users (or their devices). The EC license is purchased for every copy of the Windows server software that is accessible to the external user. An example of an external user is a person who is not an employee or similar personnel of the company or its affiliates.

Terminal Server will also introduce an EC license—the Terminal Server External Connector (TS-EC)—to address a similar need: to enable external users to access a company's terminal servers, without the need to purchase individual TS CALs for them or their devices.

[fizban2]

basically it comes down to any machine that connect to the server will need to have CAl, just comes down to what kind you will need. if you have several machines that are just kiosik machines a Device CAL will allow anyone to use that machine without issue,

Per Device or Per User mode is concerned with the total number of devices or users (or a combination of devices and users) accessing the server software across any number of servers, at any time. In this mode, you need a Windows CAL for every device or user that will be accessing Windows Server. In Per Device or Per User mode, only one Windows CAL is needed for any given device or user to access Windows Server, regardless of which servers it is accessing.

this would probably what you are looking for. one CAL per device or user (in your case with the kosik machines a per device would work better)