Rules for SQL Server CALs

SQL Server is one of approximately a dozen Microsoft products that are licensed under the server- Client Access License (CAL) model, which requires an organization to purchase a server license for each server and a CAL for each client user or device. While the Standard, Enterprise, and Workgroup editions of SQL Server are licensed under the server-CAL model, these SQL Server editions—unlike other Microsoft server products that use the server-CAL model—also give customers the option to elect a per-processor licensing model, which doesn’t use CALs.

Under the server-CAL model, CALs usually comprise at least 80% of overall licensing costs. As a result, the rules that dictate when a SQL Server CAL is necessary, which types and versions are needed, how many are required, and how to buy them are especially important.

The rules governing SQL Server CALs are mostly consistent with eight of the 10 general rules for Microsoft server products listed below.

Rules That Apply to SQL Server

Rule: CALs are assigned per-user or per-device. Each User CAL gives one user (employee or nonemployee) the right to use any device to access all instances of SQL Server running within the organization. User CALs are attractive for knowledge workers that make use of multiple devices, such as a desktop, laptop, and smart phone.