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! 🙂
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Regards, Nico
Hi I have recently been  though licensing exercise.  I can give you a few pointers that you might want to consider.  I have no experience of the forms based authentication wrt licensingÂ
- Each user will need both a std and Ent CAL to get the full experience SharePoint.  You can use the new New license Enforcement to offer say  only  Std  features to certain AD groups and so reduce your costs – I know you are mainly focussed on SharePoint Standard. SharePoint uses claims to decide who is allowed to use what wrt the standard or enterprise capablities
- There is a Single SharePoint Server License needed per server
- SQL Server is licensed per core
- External users access is a bit confusing, as I understand there are limitations as to what they can access on your farm and still be within the license agreement. If someone has compared a AD user access permissions and a (live id) externally authenticated user and found they have the ‘same’ access so no restrictions  on the farm then I think that would be very interestingÂ
- Consider the pros and cons ofÂ
- >Select PusÂ
- >Software Assurance ( min 3 years) perptual and subscription based ( you don’t own the software your just rent it!) . you get other servers such as exchange, discounted MSDN subscription ( for your apps) , Â and you get updates/new versions to the installed software. With the SA model you get either Standard or Enterprise and the Enterprise suite covers the Standard level offered. The suite determines the servers you get inc SharePoint 2013 Enterprise
- SA can also include Yammer Ent as well Office 365 Plans as an alternative to on prem.Â
- Your Reseller has discretion over the level of discount.
Good luck with your spreadsheets and the accountant!
