Can SQL server 2022 user CALs be used on SQL Server 2017 Standard Server?

Question

I have sql server 2017 installed with 10 sql 2017 user CALs, we need to add an additional 14 sql user Cal licenses but sql server 2017 CALS are no longer available only sql server 2022 user cals. Can we purchase 14 sql server 2022 cals and install it on the server and still be compliant?

Answer 1

AFAIK, user CALs are version-flexible downward: A newer version of a CAL (e.g., 2022) can be used to access an older version of SQL Server (e.g., 2017, 2016, etc.). You cannot go the other way: A 2017 CAL cannot legally be used to access SQL Server 2022. This flexibility applies as long as:

• The CALs are the same type (e.g., User CALs, not Device CALs).
• The total number of concurrent users accessing SQL Server doesn't exceed the total number of licensed CALs (10 old + 14 new = 24 users total in your case).

This is equivalent to the question (and answer) at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1661325/is-it-compliant-to-use-windows-server-2019-user-ca

Btw. there's no need to “install” the CALs on the server—CALs are a licensing right, not a software component. You simply need to be licensed for the number of users who access the server. You should maintain documentation that you have 24 valid User CALs (10 for 2017 + 14 for 2022) in case of a Microsoft audit.

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hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Hello,

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