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 finns två huvudtyper av CALs:
- Användar-CALs: Denna typ av licens ger en specifik användare rätt att komma åt servern från vilken enhet som helst (t.ex. en arbetsstation, hemdator, smartphone etc.).
- Enhet CALs: Den här typen av licens ger en specifik enhet rätt att användas av alla användare för åtkomst till servern. Det här alternativet kan vara mer kostnadseffektivt när flera användare använder samma arbetsstation eller enhet för att få åtkomst till servern.
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.
