CAL Assignment Best Practice

June 21, 2018 at 7:00 AM

We have 100 Windows server Device CAL and 50 Window Server User CAL I am bit confused on how we should assign these CAL. All device have access to Printer, Shared Drive so CAL will be needed by these system. But only issue is how to start gathering information to assign these CAL should I pull AD report and check system that are active for last 60 days and just take total count of devices? or should I get report from AD on share folder access for all users and count number of users? Also I can assign device CAL to all system scanned by snow any way all system will access shared folder or printer in our environment which makes them eligible to assign CAL. Assigning CAL is not that easy but if we want to prove to Microsoft what CAL we hold vs device/user how can we do that? What are things Microsoft will look in case they want to check if we are compliant for CAL?

kiran.bangera
8 years ago
Hi ?, ?, Sorry I was not able to get back on this I just have one last query as you have mentioned that we need to pull report from AD for all devices and all user but when we go in to manually enter the requirement how can we know which version of device CAL can we utilize I have 2016, 2012 and 2008 so how do I know which device must have connected to 2012 server or 2016 server. Is it just assigning 2016 first and then 2012, 2008. Can you confirm on this?
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- Community Manager (Flexera Software)
  8 years ago
  Hi Kiran, sorry for the late response. I cannot give you a complete license consulting answer, please keep that in mind first. Please check this topic with a Microsoft Licensing Expert afterwards. This can be delivered by a certified Snow SAM Partner, if you have a requirement there. Microsoft's Client Access Licenses (CALs) state, that you can use all lower versions. That means, that with a 2016 CAL you can also access lower server versions. It also says, that all devices that technically have the ability to perform an access need a CAL. If you have separated access control for each server/CAL version, you can setup CALs for each version. If you don't differentiate between versions in your access control management, you would need CALs for all devices/users for the highest version of servers, that are in place. /marcel
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Community Manager (Flexera Software)
8 years ago
Hi Kiran, CAL are not that easy to handle, as you correctly said. We have developed a product called CALculator. It pulls data from a central system (for example your Active Directory) and sets a total number of devices/users as a requirement. You can then add a license to this requirement and get a compliance for this. The import can be scheduled, so you don't have to worry about doing this every week/month. All you get is a compliance report or an alert - just as you like. Please find more information in the product description . If you have further questions regarding automated CAL import, please reach out to your local Account Manager. Nevertheless, you have the possibility to do this manually by entering a number as a manual requirement. Please have a look at the user guide for the Manual Compliance Calculation with Custom Compare Values . If you have any questions, please reach out to us. /marcel
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- kiran.bangera
  8 years ago
  Hi , I have gone through your document #Manual Compliance Calculation it is very helpful. I did not get this point on Step 5: The quantity states the license requirement of the product. Why did you insert 200 qty is it the quantity that we have brought or do we need to set some limit like I have 1000 license but minimum requirement is 200 atleast? Also on Step 3: when I search under application Windows Server 2012 Device CAL the metric is currently under Installations and as per your document we need to change it Custom Compares Value which I agree but how will this help us to get accurate data from ActiveDirectory to see how many user or devices will require CAL. I am not able to make any connection with this activity and AD I know we need to manually pull report from AD but how can I update this. Correct me on my steps below:- 1) Update Custom Compare Value as per your document eg:- Windows Server 2012 Device CAL 2)Go to Active Directive and pull report on Number of devices, Number of Users. 3) Calculate number of devices and user eg:- 1400 device, 800 users. 4) Go to Search application --> Windows Server 2012 Device CAL click edit and perform Step 5. Insert 1400 under quantity for custom compare value and save. 5) Perform Step 6 and insert your device CAL license. Please be free to give your feedback.
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  - Community Manager (Flexera Software)
    8 years ago
    Hi Kiran, at step 5 you have to manually enter the requirement. As an example: You know, that 500 devices need a CAL license, then you have to enter '500' there. The steps, that you outlined, are correct. You always have to remember: This is a manual calculation method. To get this done automated, you might need the CALculator, which is available through your Local Account Manager. /marcel
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    kiran.bangera
    8 years ago
    Sorry I was not able to get back on this I just have one last query as you have mentioned that we need to pull report from AD for all devices and all user but when we go in to manually enter the requirement how can we know which version of device CAL can we utilize I have 2016, 2012 and 2008 so how do I know which device must have connected to 2012 server or 2016 server. Is it just assigning 2016 first and then 2012, 2008. Can you confirm on this?
    Expand Post

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