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User licensing in Microsoft networks
In the Jungle
A client access license (CAL) is a license that provides a user or a computer access to a server service. Device CALs give a computer with several users (e.g., working in shifts) access to a server. User licenses give users access to a server from their devices (e.g., PCs, laptops, tablets, or smartphones). To find the best approach for an enterprise, you always need to do the math. Licenses are available for both the operating system and for server applications such as Exchange and SharePoint.
Licensing with Windows Server 2012 R2
Companies can purchase server licenses for Windows Server 2012 R2 and use CALs for user licensing, which is the easiest approach in most cases. In this special case, CALs for servers with Windows Server 2012 are also valid for Windows Server 2012 R2, as well as Remote Desktop Services (RDS) or Active Directory rights management CALs – something that is normally not allowed.
The Foundation and Essentials editions of Windows Server 2012 R2 are the exceptions to this rule because you do not need any CALs here. This means you can only connect 25 (Essentials) or 15 users (Foundation). Furthermore, the servers are only allowed a maximum of two processors (Essentials) or one processor (Foundation). This is, however, only an exception in Windows Server 2012 R2, because CALs for Windows Server 2008 R2 are valid in neither Windows Server 2012 nor Windows Server 2012 R2. Conversely, it is always possible to access the previous version of the product with a CAL. In other words, you can use Windows Server 2012 CALs to access servers with Windows Server 2008 R2.
As soon as the successor to Windows Server 2012 R2 is released, enterprises are thus well advised to choose the successor version CALs with new licensing and use them with Windows Server 2012 R2. This step can save a large sum of money during a later migration because the CALs are already in place.
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