question

Boris-0082 avatar image
0 Votes"
Boris-0082 asked jiayaozhu-MSFT commented

CAL for Windows Cluster

Hello All,

In order to setup Windows Cluster, a domain controller (Windows Server 2012 VM) is configured. 2 x Physical Server (Windows Server 2012) joins Domain and forms Windows Cluster. As no other client PCs of Windows 7/10 are involved, do we need CAL in this case?

We are arguing with our vendors for the need of CAL and they said that CAL is not required as no Windows service is used by client PC.

Thanks!

windows-server-clustering
· 1
5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

Hi,

I would like to check if the reply could be of help? If yes, please help accept answer, so that others meet a similar issue can find useful information quickly. If you have any other concerns or questions, please feel free to feedback. Your support is our best award!

Best Regards,
Joan

0 Votes 0 ·
jiayaozhu-MSFT avatar image
0 Votes"
jiayaozhu-MSFT answered

Hi,

Thanks for posting on our forum!

Based on your environment, I think whether you need a CAL depends on what exactly you do with that cluster for, or in other words, on the purpose for creating the cluster. What are your two physical nodes used for, which kind of feature you would like to add on your cluster, or will you create tons of VMs on your two physical nodes and make these VMs as your user account for clients?

Based on your description, I agree with your vendor, it seems that you do not need CAL since there are no user or device side that needs authenticated access to your computer so far. But if you want to install SQL, RDS, and Exchange features or services on your cluster, for example, you will need a CAL.

To better understand CAL, you can read these articles:

What You Need to Know about Windows Server CALs
https://promotions.newegg.com/Servers/16-1194/index.html

(Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.)

Do I need CAL for my Windows Server 2016 Standard if it's used only for data sharing?
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/dd6b5d5c-f7f6-4ae6-b669-461626f580ce/do-i-need-cal-for-my-windows-server-2016-standard-if-its-used-only-for-data-sharing?forum=ws2016

Thanks for your support! And I would appreciate it if you could help me Accept Answer to support my work! Have a nice day! : )

BR,
Joan


If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

Boris-0082 avatar image
0 Votes"
Boris-0082 answered jiayaozhu-MSFT edited

Hi Joan,

Thanks for your response.

The windows cluster is used to provide physical resilience for the VMs (Windows Server 2012) hosted on it. One of the VM is the domain controller that the physical servers join. The remaining VMs (Windows Server 2012 without joining Domain services) are setup by our vendors to host their applications (no other Microsoft services are involved).

· 1
5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

Hi,

Thanks for your response!

Based on your demands, I agree with your vendor, at present it is not necessarily for you to use CAL since your cluster is not mainly used for sharing files. Besides, I have noticed that none of Microsoft products like RDS or Exchange will be used in your cluster. If you decide to use SQL, for instance, in the future, you still can buy and install CAL for this particular use, so you don't have to worry about if you will miss something or your operation will crash because of the lack of CAL.

Thanks for your support! And if you think my work is helpful to you in some extent, would you please help me Accept Answer? I would really appreciate that!

Have a nice day!

BR,
Joan

0 Votes 0 ·