Hey fellow SP’ers,
Got a question on SharePoint 2013 licensing.
We have the following SharePoint topology
SharePoint Server 2013 Standard:
1 App Server
1 WFE Server
1 SQL Server
We have set up 3 authentication mechanisms:
1. Windows Authentication (For employees)
2. ADFS (For partners)
3. Forms-based authentication using a SQL database (for temporary access)
For employees, the scenario is pretty straightforward.
However, for external users, the concept has changed a little.
I am aware that external users do not need a SharePoint CAL.
However, I am unsure how this works for Windows CAL’s for the Forms-based users.
Since the users are not saved in Active Directory, someone told me they do not need Windows CAL’s for externals.
After asking the licensing guy here, he told me they do need Windows CAL’s for every external user. He said this can be achieved in 2 ways:
1. A Windows CAL for every SQL user.
2. A Windows External Connector License for every server in the farm (including SQL Server).
Is this right? This would mean in this scenario, that the client would need 3 Windows External Connector Licenses.
Thanks for any input/links to official documentation! 🙂
Â
Regards, Nico
TevorÂ
The link Nico mentioned, I noticed I had reply to one of my comments ( which I do need to acknowledge) . Â On page 38 it seems to indicate that the “external access” to SharePoint is licensed through the server license. Â It also seems to indicate the access to content by users coming in via the internet ( outside the firewall) have unrestricted access to content. Â I have to admit I do find this a bit surprising given the implications to the loss in revenue flowing to Microsoft. Â Does a “free lunch” exist in this scenario?
http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userights/Downloader.aspx?DocumentId=5752
External Users who authenticate have to be licensed with a Windows CAL, or you license a Windows Server (or virtualization host covering all VMs on that host) with a Windows Server External Connector. Â The break even point is around 63 non-employees.
Anonymous users do not need a Windows CAL.
Hi Daniel,
Yes, the client has the correct SQL Server licensing (processor core license).
When an external user logs in to SharePoint, they don’t need a SharePoint 2013 CAL (as stated here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/volume-licensing/archive/2013/08/08/licensing-how-to-sharepoint-server-2013-licensing-changes.aspx)
However, when an external user logs in to SharePoint, should they have a Windows CAL to access SharePoint, or is this covered in the Server license as well? This is the thing I can’t find any information about.
Thanks!
NicoÂ
Remember SQLServer is licensed per core regardless of how you authenticate your users. Â The external connector never came up in my discussions with the reseller – I wonder if this a hangover from SharePoint 2010. Be interested if anyone is is using it with 2013. Â I know you can license per device or per user cal.Â
ironically, I tried to delete my previously long comments as after re-reading it I did think answered your question sufficiently.
Hi Daniel,
First of all, thanks for your response! Any information about SQL users regarding this? I am not sure if the Windows External Connector license is needed, and if so, for how many servers!
