This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(41.6, 78%, 14%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDT%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We are upgrading to newer MS SQL server, and also from Express to Standard version. We dont understand what counts as access to SQL Server, for an example. We have 7 devices that are sending data to the SQL Databases, these devices are operated by diffrent users, not authenticating against the DB, only using an account created primarly for this funtion built in to the program used for transfer of data to SQL DB. also we have an local Website that users go to and can use predefined querys against the DB to get the information in an pdf. what part of this construct would need SQL CAL licensing? Yes we are 4-6 administrators against these databases.
Hello,
This is a community forum for technical questions & issues.
For question regarding pricing / licensing please contact a Microsoft sales partner or licensing expert.
Call (1-800-426-9400), Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM PST to speak directly to Microsoft licensing specialist.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-2019-pricing
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(67.2, 1%, 16%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ETP%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The licensing guide will answer your questions.
/api/attachments/96089-sql-server-2019-licensing-guide.pdf?platform=QnA
For detailed information about the 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. For international customers, please use the https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/worldwide to find contact information in your locations.
This answer is no legal recommendation just my understanding and experience:
If there were just those devices you might have been purchasing 7 CALs for the devices and 4-6 CALs for the users, BUT you are running a corp. website which can potentially be used by xxx users... all those users (like on a SharePoint) need a CAL if you prefer to use the CAL licensing.
For such a scenario (unknown number of potential users), I would recommend licensing the SQL Server Standard with normal Server Core licenses.
Yes but the users that dont authenticate against said website dont access Databases directly, the websites script does using an MS SQL useraccount.
we have windows server CAL its just the SQL part that we need to cover when we purchase
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(28.799999999999997, 2%, 12%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESX%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi @Daniel Törnstam ,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!
This is regarding license issue. You can get help from Volume Licensing Service Center support. Please choose region/language and choose to call or have web.
Good Day.
Best regards,
Seeya
If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.