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Hi,
I'm upgrading our SQL Server and Windows Server to 2019, and wondering if I need to purchase more than one SQL User Cal with my scenario.
We have an Application that uses RDP to connect each physical workstation to a single Application Server and an SQL Server.
We use the same Domain user profile simultaneously at 20 workstations that accesses the Application & SQL Servers, each workstation is configured within the application to connect to the SQL Server database using the same username & password.
Do I need to purchase 20 SQL User Cals (1 for each workstation), or can I just purchase 1 User Cal for the Domain user profile being used?
Thank you!
Hi @Gabe Campos ,
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Thank you for the comments, I contacted MS, their response was that I would need to purchase a device Cal for each workstation, and that we wouldn't be in compliance if we only used a single User Cal even if it was the only User Domain account used.
Hi @Gabe Campos ,
Thanks for sharing the solution for your issue. Please make your solution as answer. By doing so, it will benefit all community members who are having this similar issue. Your contribution is highly appreciated.
Hi @Gabe Campos ,
Welcome to MS Q&A forum.
>Do I need to purchase 20 SQL User Cals (1 for each workstation), or can I just purchase 1 User Cal for the Domain user profile being used
You can just purchase 1 User Cal for the Domain user. From your description, your SQL server under Server + CAL option. Under this SQL license model, customers must assign a license to the physical server hosting any operating system environment (OSE) running SQL Server and acquire a SQL Server CAL for each user or device that accesses the server. If you are using only one user, you can just purchase 1 User Cal for this user.
Please refer to the blog An Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server Licensing or MS document Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Licensing guide.
By the way, for detailed information about the SQL server license issue, please call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. Or you can go to Volume Licensing Service Center support. Please choose region/language and choose to call or have web. People there will help you more effectively.
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Your scenario is called "Multiplexer", see https://download.microsoft.com/download/8/7/3/8733d036-92b0-4cb8-8912-3b6ab966b8b2/multiplexing.pdf
And this means, even if only one application accesses SQL Server with one login, you still have to purchase a CAL for each user of the app = 20 CAL's