CALs and External Connectors

Rob Horwitz analyzes and writes about Microsoft licensing programs and product licensing rules. He also trains organizations on best Microsoft... more

More than a dozen Microsoft server products require clients to be licensed with Client Access Licenses (CALs) or a limited-use license called an External Connector. Popular server products using CALs and/or External Connectors include Windows Server, Communications Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, and SQL Server (which can also be licensed in other ways). These products follow many of the same general principles, but each product has its own rules. The general principles that hold for most products are described here.

Client Access Licenses

A CAL gives one person or physical device the right to connect to and use any instance of the server product running within the organization. CALs are the only option available for licensing an organization’s employees and onsite contract employees. However, organizations can also use CALs to license nonemployees—such as business partners, suppliers, customers, retirees, and alumni users. General principles for CALs include the following:

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