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.
Det finnes to hovedtyper av CAL-er:
- Bruker-CAL-er: Denne typen lisens gir en bestemt bruker rett til å få tilgang til serveren fra en hvilken som helst enhet (f.eks. en arbeidsstasjon, hjemme-PC, smarttelefon osv.).
- Enhet CALs: Denne typen lisens gir en bestemt enhet rett til å brukes av alle brukere for å få tilgang til serveren. Dette alternativet kan være mer kostnadseffektivt når flere brukere bruker samme arbeidsstasjon eller enhet for å få tilgang til serveren.
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.
