CAL stands for “Client Access License.” It is a license that grants users or devices the right to access the services or features of a server. CALs are particularly relevant in the context of Microsoft server products such as Microsoft Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and many others.
Existen dos tipos principales de CAL:
- CALs de usuario: Este tipo de licencia concede a un usuario concreto el derecho a acceder al servidor desde cualquier dispositivo (como una estación de trabajo, un ordenador doméstico, un smartphone, etc.).
- Dispositivo CALs: Este tipo de licencia concede a un dispositivo específico el derecho a ser utilizado por cualquier usuario para acceder al servidor. Esta opción puede resultar más rentable cuando varios usuarios utilizan la misma estación de trabajo o dispositivo para acceder al servidor.
The choice between User CALs and Device CALs depends on the specific usage scenario in a company or organization. Microsoft offers these flexible licensing options to accommodate different business models and work practices.
CALs are necessary because Microsoft’s server operating systems and some other server products are licensed based on the principle of access licenses. This means that, in addition to the license for the server itself, additional licenses are required to legalize access to that server.
