SharePoint 2010 provides a full set of capabilities to meet almost any business need. Because you can do so much with SharePoint, it can be a challenge to determine what licenses are required for your company’s specific needs. To start gathering the necessary information, answer the following five questions:
SharePoint 2010 has three levels of functionality, each with a set of corresponding licenses
Note: For a complete list of features in each SharePoint edition, see the Editions Comparison.
A server license is required for each running instance of the server software (SharePoint Server 2010 or SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites).
When using SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites to license external-facing scenarios, you need a license on all servers that will be used for external content, regardless of farm configuration or if users are directly accessing the server (staging, application, front-end, or index). Servers in a development/test environment are an exception, as they are typically covered by MSDN licensing.
To accommodate topologies where one server farm supports internal and external users, both types of server licenses can be assigned to the same servers and use the same running instances of the software.
Microsoft offers two options when purchasing CALs, a device-based CAL (Device CAL) or a user-based CAL (User CAL). With a Device CAL, a CAL is required for every device that accesses a SharePoint 2010 Server, regardless of the number of people who use that device. With a User CAL, a CAL is required for every person who accesses a SharePoint 2010 Server, regardless of the number of devices used.
You can choose the option that makes the most sense for your company’s needs. For example, User CALs are well suited for employees who need roaming access using multiple devices, while Device CALs are a better fit for multiple-shift workers who share devices.
SharePoint Server 2010 requires Microsoft Windows Server and Microsoft SQL Server and does not include licenses for those products. Be sure you have the correct licenses for Windows Server and SQL Server
- What features of SharePoint does my company need?
- Is my company providing SharePoint to internal users (employees) or external users (suppliers, customers, vendors, and the public)?
- How many servers will run SharePoint?
- How many people or devices will access SharePoint?
- Is my company licensed for the Microsoft products that are needed to run SharePoint?
- Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010
- Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 plus Standard CAL
- Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 plus Enterprise CAL (& Standard CAL)
Product | Description | Licensing Notes |
SharePoint Foundation 2010 |
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SharePoint Server 2010 plus Standard CAL |
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SharePoint Server 2010 plus Enterprise CAL (& Standard CAL) |
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2. Is my company providing SharePoint to internal users (employees) or external users (suppliers, customers, vendors, and the public)?
SharePoint has two licensing models to accommodate two groups of users- Server plus CAL, for internal users
- Server-only, for external users
Licensing Model | Use Cases | Licenses |
Server plus CAL |
| Both Server licenses and CALs are required
|
Server only |
| Only server licenses are required, but they must be purchased for each running instance of the server software. There are two options
|
When using SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites to license external-facing scenarios, you need a license on all servers that will be used for external content, regardless of farm configuration or if users are directly accessing the server (staging, application, front-end, or index). Servers in a development/test environment are an exception, as they are typically covered by MSDN licensing.
To accommodate topologies where one server farm supports internal and external users, both types of server licenses can be assigned to the same servers and use the same running instances of the software.
You can choose the option that makes the most sense for your company’s needs. For example, User CALs are well suited for employees who need roaming access using multiple devices, while Device CALs are a better fit for multiple-shift workers who share devices.
SharePoint Server 2010 requires Microsoft Windows Server and Microsoft SQL Server and does not include licenses for those products. Be sure you have the correct licenses for Windows Server and SQL Server
- Windows Server usually is licensed through the Server/CAL model. For complete information on licensing for Windows Server, see the Windows Server 2008 licensing page.
- SQL Server has two primary licensing models Server/CAL and per processor. For complete information on licensing for SQL Server, see the SQL Server 2008 licensing page.
Take the reference of http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/en-us/buy/Pages/Licensing-Details.aspx