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How to verify number of CALs?

  • April 14, 2005 at 7:55 am

    #163242

    I want to verify the number of CALs (client access license) that were set up when we installed SQL Server 2000.  Is there a SQL query that I can perform to get this info? 

    Also can how can you change the number of CALs after installation? 

  • April 14, 2005 at 8:21 am

    #552709

    There is a SQL Server 2000 Licensing Setup icon in the control panel.

  • April 14, 2005 at 8:23 am

    #552712

    Noel - you ROCK!!!

     

  • April 15, 2005 at 1:56 am

    #552868

    I think you can also use the SERVERPROPERTY() function for this.

    select convert(varchar(200),serverproperty('LicenseType')) 

    gives you the type of license (PER_SEAT, PER_PROCESSOR or DISABLED) and

    select convert(varchar(20),serverproperty('NumLicenses')) 

    gives you either the number of CALs or the number of processors

     

     

  • April 15, 2005 at 8:06 am

    #552911

    Keep in mind that this is manually maintained.  If you purchase CALS there is no requirement to update this field.  If you don't update it there is no impact except you may forget how many CALS you have or a new DBA may have a hard time finding out.  It is only for documentation so you are aware.  I know we bought some CALS a couple of years ago and after reading this I guess I'll update the SQL Set up, althought if I really want to know I can always look at our account at Microsoft and see what we actually purchased. https://eopen.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

    Francis

  • April 15, 2005 at 8:21 am

    #552915

    So if I have 20 CALs purchased, does SQL know if more than 20 people are accesing SQL Server at a time?  Can I have, say 50 people accessing it without any problems?  You would think Microsoft would only allow the number of CALs purchased to access SQL Server at a time. 

  • April 15, 2005 at 8:58 am

    #552924

    If you have 20 CALS purchased and 50 workstations log in, SQL Server will accept all 50.  Keep in mind the CALS are really for the workstation so if I have 2 servers and 20 workstations that access applications on either server I only need 20 CALS.  Whether all 20 access server A or all 20 access server B is irrelevant.  I don't need to buy 20 CALS for server B and 20 for server B.  I just need 20 CALS.  On the flip side I can't say "only 10 people ever access the app at any one time so I actually only need 10 CALS"  CALS are not sharable.  Every workstation that might access SQL Server needs to be licenced but once that workstation has a CAL they can access any number of SQL Servers.  Depending on the number of processors on you server and the number of workstations that may access it at some point its becomes a better deal to buy a server licence.  This is usually what is done for web based apps where potentially hundreds or thousands of workstations may connect.  Note however the money you spend on CALS is not transferable; there is no upgrade price.  If you move from CALS to server licensing, you start from scratch and need to buy a new license.  If you have insufficient CALS and are are caught the penalty may be severe.

    Francis

  • April 15, 2005 at 9:09 am

    #552927

    Thanks alot for the explanation fhanlon!

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