Common Web Collaboration License Types

SharePoint Web collaboration functions require licenses for SharePoint, Windows Server, SQL Server, and other products. Shown here are the most common types of licenses purchased in volume licensing for SharePoint Server 2010 Web collaboration on-premises.

Each server running SharePoint Server 2010 components (left) requires a SharePoint Server 2010 server license and a Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 server license. SharePoint Server 2010 works with SQL Server 2005, 2008, 2008 R2, or 2012. Organizations must license SQL Server for each server hosting SharePoint’s databases. Shown here is one SQL Server licensing option: the organization purchases SQL Server 2012 core licenses for the cores in each server’s processors, as well as a server license for Windows Server.

Each employee or employee device (right) that accesses the SharePoint installation for Web collaboration requires a SharePoint Server 2010 Standard Client Access License (CAL). A Windows Server 2008 CAL is also required. These CALs would commonly be assigned to each employee, which permits the employee to access the SharePoint system from any device. The SharePoint Server Standard CAL and Windows Server CAL are both part of Microsoft’s Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite, bundles that customers commonly purchase in Enterprise Agreements but which are also available in other volume license programs.