Licensing

The SBS 2003 R2 license gives you the right to install and use the server software. The SBS 2003 R2 CAL gives you the right for a device or user to access the server software. You need both types of licenses in order to be in compliance.

The SBS 2003 R2 license and the CALs are both activated over the Internet. If you do not have an Internet connection, you can run the SBS 2003 R2 Add Licenses Wizard and choose to activate your licenses by calling a telephone number. Small Business Server 2000 and earlier versions used codes distributed on floppy disks to activate CALs.

The paper CALs are the same regardless of which edition you purchase. The CALs refer to the rights for your users or devices that are granted in the license agreement accompanying your server; the user rights are not contained in the CAL.

You can purchase additional CALs from any sales channel you prefer—retail, through a Microsoft volume licensing agreement, or from your hardware manufacturer or provider—and use those CALs with your server.

A user CAL permits one user (using any device) to access the server software. A device CAL permits one device (used by any user) to access the server software. Both types are offered to allow customers cost-effective licensing options. For example, per-user CALs are most effective when an employee uses several devices to access the server, such as a work computer and a home computer. Per-device CALs are most effective when several employees use the same device to access the server, such as rotating shifts in a call center.

For these first five CALs, you get to choose. At the top of the CAL Microsoft Software License Terms in the retail packaging, you can choose to allocate these CALs to users or devices.

No. SBS 2003 R2 CALs are not concurrent. They are per user or per device only.

Yes. However, experience has shown that this introduces uncertainty and complexity to managing your licenses and staying in compliance. We strongly recommend you determine which method is prevalent (or preferable) on your network, and then use only those CALs.

No. User CALs and device CALs are only available in 5-packs and 20-packs. You cannot buy a 20-pack of user CALs and split it into, for instance, 16-user and 4-device CALs.

You may not separate the software for use on more than one operating system environment under a single license. This applies even if the operating system environments are on the same physical hardware system, such as by using virtualization technology.

Yes. They are not “floating” licenses and so they must be assigned to specific users or devices. If a user leaves the company or a device is retired, then the CAL can be reassigned.

Yes, until May 31, 2009, Windows Small Business Server (Windows SBS) 2003 R2 customers or Windows SBS 2003 Customers who buy a copy of Windows Server 2008 and add it to the Windows SBS 2003 domain can use their Windows SBS 2003 or Windows SBS 2003 R2 CALs to access the Server.

No. You must purchase additional Exchange Server 2007 CALs in order to be compliant with your licenses.

Yes. When a user authenticates against the network, such as reading e-mail or using Remote Web Workplace, they are required to have either a user or device CAL.

You do not need a CAL for additional servers to connect to the domain.

No. Your SBS 2003 R2 CALs allow your users to access any additional servers running Windows Server software in the domain. You do not need to buy additional CALs for file and print services, or to access additional servers running Exchange Server 2003 or SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition. However, you will need to purchase Terminal Server CALs if you have a server running Terminal Services in application mode on your network.

In most cases your printer or multi-function device will not consume a CAL. However, if your device authenticates to the domain it will require a CAL. The most common scenario where your would need a CAL is when you have a multi-function device that uploads scanned images, such as a pdf, to a server share using authentication.

If you have Software Assurance for your SBS 2003 R2 CALs, you can only switch between CAL types when you renew your Software Assurance contract. If you do not have Software Assurance for your SBS 2003 R2 CALs, then you cannot switch between license types.

After you have obtained your CAL add-on packs, use the Server Management console to enter the product key that ships with the CAL pack. Click Start, Server Manager, Licensing, and then Add Licenses. Follow the wizard to enter your product keys.

No. The Licenses console displays the total number of CALs that have been activated on the server and maximum number of clients that were connected since the last server restart. This provides a quick indicator as to whether additional CALs should be purchased. It does not provide a real-time license monitor. You will need to maintain records of what you have purchased, and how you have assigned the first 5 CALs that come with the server.

Yes. If you are running SBS 2003 R2, you are allowed to access any other servers running Windows Server 2003 R2, Exchange Server 2003 Standard or Enterprise Edition or SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition within your SBS 2003 R2 domain.

No. You must purchase SBS 2003 R2 CALs in order to access your SBS 2003 R2 server. However, if you purchased Software Assurance for your SBS 2000 CALs and it is still current, then you will receive free upgrades to SBS 2003 R2 CALs.

Yes. The CALs you bought to access your SBS 2003 server are also valid for SBS 2003 R2.

No. The SBS version running on your server determines which CAL rights apply on your network. The SBS 2003 server license does not provide the SBS 2003 R2 expanded CAL rights. As long as SBS 2003 is running on your server, you do not gain the expanded CAL rights of SBS 2003 R2. The only way to gain the expanded SBS 2003 R2 CAL rights is to purchase and install SBS 2003 R2 on your server.

You will need to purchase SBS 2003 R2 CALs, and then contact your Microsoft customer service center to order fulfillment media at a nominal fee. Contact the media fulfillment center at 800-248-0655 to order your SBS 2003 R2 CALs and apply your downgrade rights. Note: This solution might not apply for all international customers. Please contact your local customer service center for more information.

Yes. You can downgrade from SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition to SBS 2003 Premium Edition with Service Pack 1. You can also downgrade from SBS 2003 R2 Standard Edition to SBS 2003 to SBS 2003 Standard Edition with Service Pack 1. If you obtained your server with SBS preinstalled from a partner or OEM, in order to exercise your downgrade rights you must already have your SBS 2003 media available. If you purchased Open Licensing, Volume Licensing, Software Assurance, or purchased the full retail product of SBS 2003 R2, contact Microsoft fulfillment services in your region.