Microsoft FAQ

A: The only Microsoft Dynamics product that can be purchased is CRM.

A: If the remote workers are just accessing a server via a VPN tunnel, then it doesn't use terminal services.

A: If they are a gold partner, then they have the use of up to 100 licences with their action pack.

A: This is only available through volume licensing and is a convenient way to licence basic server components across PCs. The Microsoft Core CAL includes CALs for Microsoft Windows Server, Exchange Server, Systems Management Server and SharePoint Portal Server.

A: This is a maximum of 5 users and the CALs for those users are included in the server licence.

A: There are 3 types of CALs that can be purchased to connect to either of the server editions. These are:

Dynamics CRM CAL - Gives the user read/write access

Dynamics CRM Limited CAL - Gives the user read access only

Dynamics CRM Full Use CAL - This is an add-on to the Limited CAL which will then gie the user read/write access

A: Unfortunately there is no upgrade path.

A: The customer will need to purchase the management server licence and then standard managed server licences.

A: A Windows Device CAL allows a device to access all Windows Servers on a specific domain. So if an additional server gets added to the domain, no additional CALs are required if all devices on the domain already have a Windows CAL.

A: Office Project Professional 2007 includes all the capabilities in Office Project Standard 2007. In addition, Office Project Professional 2007 provides collaborative enterprise project management capabilities when used with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007. To obtain the project pro, they need to purchase the project server and a CAL per user.

A: Microsoft have discontinued its line of Digital Image Suite products. Many of the digital imaging features and tools can no be found in new Microsoft titles and services including Windows Vista. However, what features are included depends upon the edition of Windows Vista.

Some of the features that are included in Windows Vsita include: Windows Photo Gallery - easy, intuitive way to view and manage photos and videos, Acquiring and importing photos and videos, Viewing and fixing photos and videos and Editing photos and videos.

A: Unfortunately these are not available separately under Open Value Agreements. The only option that the customer has is to purchase Core CALs. Core CAL contains Windows Server CAL, Exchange Server Standard CAL, Office Sharepoint Server Standard CAL and Systems Management Server CAL.

A: Basically, Exchange Hosted Services is a group of services (eg security, archiving, encryption) that a customer can subscribe to as an add-on to their already existing email service. You can purchase this through open value, school agreements, etc.

It is different from Hosted Exchange as that Hosted Exchange provides a hosted email service (not just the services to bolt on).

A: This is an additional CAL and requires a Standard CAL to be purchased for each user or device. The Exchange Server Enterprise CAL provides access to Unified Messaging and advanced compliance, as well as Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Exchange Hosted Filtering for onsite and hosted antivirus and anti-spam protection.

A: This provides access to email, shared calendering and Outlook Web Access (OWA). In addition, you will get advancements that reduce the cost and complexity of the messaging system by giving IT administrators the messaging protection their company demands, the anywhere access their end users want and the reliability they need.

A: External connector licences are designed to provide access for non-employees of the company to the server. Please see the following link explaining the usage - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/howtobuy/licensing/extconnector.mspx

A: There are different levels of MSDN subscription available for development, test & demonstration purposes, but in order to access Microsoft Dynamisc CRM 4.0, you will need an active MSDN Premium subscription.

If the customer has an MSDN operating system subscription or MSDN Professional subscription, they will not have access to CRM 4.

A: Microsoft MSDN is a speciality product and occassionally they don't work or appear on the e-open website. There is a department that will be able to rectify the problem and the customer needs to contact them using the details below.

Email: msdnic@eu.subservices.com

Telephone: 0035318831014

A: This licence is only applicable for the Office Communications Server 2005, with the new 2007 version all that is required is a regular User or Device CAL.

A: If you want to authenticate your external users to the Office Communications Server, then you need an External Connectgor Licence. However, if you just want to use Instant Messaging you can purchase a public IM Licence. In general, when purchasing Office Communications Server 2007 CALs, it's important to note that Standard and Enterprise CALs are available.

Standard CAL - Access to instant messaging, presence, peer-to-peer voice and video and file transfer capabilities.

Enterprise CAL - Needs to be purchased in addition to the standard CAL and will also give the user access to voice and call management, application sharing and multi-party web conferencing.

These 2 CALs also apply to the External Connector LIcence where it is available in the 2 editions. They will have the same functionality of the CALs but for external users. If the customer wants the Enterprise External Connector, then they will still need to purchase the External Connector Standard Edition as this offers additional functionality on top of the standard functionality.

A: When you purchase a new licence, an agreement number is given. This agreement number lasts for 2 years and during this time, you can add as many licences as and when required. After the 2 years, the licence is yours forever but you can no longer add licences to the agreement number. After this, any additional licences required will require the customer to purchase a new licence with the minimum requirement entry of 5.

A: It is designed for customers with 5 or more computers and beneficial to the customer with spread payments and simple licence tracking. There are 3 schemes under open value and they are all paid annually for 3 years:

Non Company Wide - Only pay for licences for some of the company's PCs or Servers. After the 3 years, they own the licence.

Company Wide - All of the company's PCs and Servers. You can add licences on a non-company wide basis once the initial company wide agreement is open. After the 3 years, they own the licence.

Open Value Subscription - They rent the licence for 3 years and after this period, they will need to renew for the whole 3 years again.

A: You will need to purchase one of the following: Office Pro or Small Business, Core CAL or Small Business CAL or Windows Vista Upgrade.

A: One of the rules of OVS is that all platform products have to be ordered in the first order and can't be added afterwards. So the end user could buy the Office OVP instead or OVS, or wait until the anniversary date of their current agreement, terminate the existing agreement, and start up a new one with the Office on it.

A: They can upgrade a product, for example CRM Small Business Edition and then CRM Professional by purchasing an Open Vaule step up licence.

A: If they do not wish to renew the agreement before the 3 year term has ended, then they need to de-install the software. There is no buy-out option available before the end date of an agreement.

A: There is a price break at 250 users.

A: If you have 5 or more PCs, you qualify for an Open Value Subscription Agreement. You can start an Open Value Subscription Agreement by buying at least one of the Microsoft platform products.

The Microsoft Desktop Professional Platform consists of: Office Professional, Windows Professional Upgrade, Core Client Access Licence (CAL) for Windows Server, Exchange Server, System Management Server and SharePoint Portal Server.

The Small Business Platform consists of: Office for Small Businesses, Windows Professional Upgrade and Windows Small Business Server Client Access Licence.

A: Unfortunately they are not entitled to use Microsoft Outlook. For further information, please see the following link - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123811(EXCHG.80).aspx

A: The end user that has employees using Outlook Web Access (OWA) off site will need a User CAL. User and Device CALs can be mixed, but those that use OWA will need User CALs and any Office bound users can have Device CALs.

A: The products that require physical media are CRM, SBS, Math and Windows Server for SBS.

A: The majority of physical media was going to be discontinued from 31st January 2008. This has now been extended and remaining until at least June 2008. About 90% of Microsoft Media however, is available to download from eOpen website for free.

A: Small Business Platform - Windows Vista Enterprise, Office Small Business and SBS Cal Suite

Professional Desktop - Windows Vista Enterprise, Office Professional Plus and Core CAL Suite

A: A customer can mix the platform components, but only when a complete Small Business or Professional desktop has been purchased will they qualify for the discount.

A: A licence that is required for each processor in the server on which software is running. The benefits of this are access to unlimited number of users to connect from eith inside the Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN) or outside the firewall. This means that purchasing of additional CALs are not required.

A: This means that the product qualifies in its own right to enter an open agreement.

A: The Project Pro contains a Project Server CAL so any PC with this installed does not need to purchase an additional CAL to access the Project Server.

A: No additional software is required when clients are accessing locally as they are still accessing the website.

A: You should be able to use SQL 2005 Express Edition for 2-3 users comfortably if they are storing only Project related information. If the customer is willing to store more than 4GB of data, they would need to upgrade to the other versions of SQL 2005 - either Workgroup or Standard.

SQL Express Edition 2005 - Supports one CPU, but can be installed on any server, 1GB addressable RAM, 4GB maximum database size.

http://www.microsoft.com.sql/editions.express/features.mspx

A: Project Server works by using a project manager who will need to use project professional and the other users on the project will require project web access (PWA). Project Web Access requires a database to store its information so it's mandatory to use SQL Server. You can either use SQL 2005 Express Edition (which is free) or use any other editions of SQL 2005.

The SharePOint solution offers advanced functionality but this then will require additional server and client licences for the SharePoint. So they don't need to have sharepoint but the PWA integrates with this.

The following link talks about the other technologies that PWA integrate with - http://www.schedulemanagement.com/msprojectwebaccess/webaccessqa.htm

Q: I have purchased Exchange 2007 with Standard and Enterprise CALs. We require Forefront, but I don't know if any of the functionality is already included in the Exchange CAL. If not, how do I purchase Forefront?

A: The Exchange Enterprise CAL only gives the end user Forefront if they have Software Assurance. If they don't, they they can purchase Forefront through an OVP Agreement.

A: Forefront is only available to buy under an open value agreement and for educational users only as a schools agreement. The other difference with this product is that it is priced as monthly usbscription. This means that depending on the amount of users, you will need to multiply this by 12 for 1 years pricing.

Example - 14 users for Forefront Security Suite

14 (users) x 12 (months) = 168 (qty to order)

A: We can supply to European countries but they will have an English languard licence. If they require the licence to be in their own languafe, then they will need to purchase the licence in that country.

A: Unfortunately under a subscription agreement the customer has to pay for the licences annually. This is due to the terms of the agreement of only paying for the eligible desktops that the company has at the time of the annual payment. This gives the comapny the advantage of only paying for what the company have so if the company has decreased in size then they pay less for that year. If the customer wants to purchase all 3 years upfront then they can have either a Open Value Company Wide or Non-Company Wide.

A: If the remote offices are on the same domain as the server in the main office, they only require User/Device CALs.

A: Software Assurance is all that needs renewing with Microsoft, if this was not purchased with your licences then you don't need to do anything. Microsoft are simply telling you that the agreement is coming to its end, the agreement number/authorisation number lasts for 2 years, so all this means is that the next time you need office licences, you will need to purchase the minimum quantity again.

A: If you have a network with an SBS Server and a Windows Server, the SBS CALs will cover you to access the Windows Server if the SBS Server is the domain controller. If the SBS Server is not the domain controller, then you need to buy Windows CALs as well as SBS CALs.

A: Yes they are.

A: An SBS CAL will work for all SBS Servers.

A: The product you will need is Desktop School All Languages Lic/SA Pack MVL and this includes Office Enterprise, Vista Upgrade, Windows CALs and Exchange CALs. This will need to be bought for all computers in the school. Whn requiring SQL CALs, these will need to be purchased separately and have to be the same quantity as the desktop licences.

A: It can, but the minimum requirement is 50 licences.

A: There is a 30 day renewal limit after the expiry date.

A: The best option is the sharepoint server solution. The Sharepoint Cals are included in the Core Cals and if they purchase these they only need to purchase Sharepoint Server. If they would like the enterprise functionality then Sharepoint Enterprise Cals are also required.

A: They are a subscription licence and can be purchased as either 1 or 3 year agreement. All eligible desktops must have a licence, so standardisation is required. To start an agreement 300 units must be purchased. Downgrade rights are also available with this agreement. When purchasing additional licences during an agreement these will need to be pro rata.

A: The student option is an extra cost option and needs to be indicated on the agreement forms when completed.

A: Unfortunately, under Schools Agreement Terminal Server User CALs are unavailable. Terminal Server Device CALs are available, but these have to be purchased in the same quantity as all Desktops.

Q: Can a customer purchase Office Pro under a Schools Agreement?

A: Unfortunately, under a Schools Agreement they can only purchase Office Enterprise.

A: This type of scenario is a Microsoft Services Provider Licence Agreement (SPLA) which enables services providers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to licence Microsoft licensed products on a monthly basis over a three year agreement term. These licensed products are used to provide software services and hosted applications. The SPLA agreement is best suited for businesses that are web hosted providers, application services providers, web or internet services providers etc..

This agreement is different to the others as this allows commercial hosting of Microsoft licensed products as this is designed specifically for service providers to deliver software services to their customer and even third parties.

Currently we are unable to supply these agreements as you need to be an authorised reseller. Please use the following link for further information - http://www.microsoft.com.serviceproviders/licensing/default.mspx

A: There is no Enterprise Server, the customer will have to purchase the standard and the Enterprise CALs together to get access to the Enterprise functionality.

A: Unfortunately Microdoft do not do site licences at all.

Q: If a customer wants to upgrade from Small Business Server Standard R1 to Small Business Server Premium R2, can they keep the same CALs?

A: CALs are not specific to R1 or R2 so they can keep the CALs that they have at the moment.

A: For the Small Business Server, a product key is not given on the eOpen website. The product key is printed on the media sleeve when installing. The Small Business Server CALs are obtained through the eOpen website or by calling the activation centre.

A: When you buy OEM or a Retail Boxed product, you only have 90 days after the day of the purchase to buy software assurance. When purchasing an open licence, the software assurance must be purchased at the same time.

A: There are 5 main aspects of Software Assurance, which are:

Plan - Get the latest version of the software

Deploy - Receive planning deployment services as and when the customer needs it

Use - Access to training and online learning courses

Maintain - Enhanced problem resolution support

Transition - Customers needing to run older technologies receive additional support

A full list of benefits can be found at https://partner.microsoft.com/softwareassurance

A: The customer has 60 days to renew. See http://download.microsoft.com/download/D/B/2/DB2D66FD-5C73-4BA8-A46E-4AFB5551F413/SA_Renew_Plan_Guide.pdf

A: Training vouchers are only applicable to Application and system products under open value. For applications you receive 1 training day per 50 licences (maximum 10 days) and for systems you receive 1 training day per 50 licences (maximum 5 days).

A: The SQL Server Runtime licence is a licence that lets an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) embed the complete SQL server code into a solution for use only be the ISV application. The customers of the ISV cannot use this SQL Server product to run other applications or to develop new applications, databases or tables. This licence is supported on a 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

In order to obtain this licence you need to be a Microsoft partner and enroll on the Microsoft ISV licensing program. The ISV will place the order and receives one master copy of the product which is a regular CD of the product. They can use this master copy to make additional copies and the ISV can distribute these copies as part of a unified solution.

Unfortunately the distribution channel does not get involved in ISV licensing and you will need to contact Microsoft directly.

Q: Are SQL CALs required when only an application is being deployed on an SQL Server?

A: When licensing an SQL Server, the customer usually needs to purchase CALs to access the Server. So it will be wither User or Device CALs depending on what the best way to access the Server is for the customer.

It is also inportant what SQL Server Edition the customer has purchased as to what CAL they require as there are 2 types of CAL:

SQL Server Workgroup CAL - This can only be used with Workgroup Edition

SQL Server CAL - These can be used with Workgroup, Standard or Enterprise Editions

A: No, unfortunately this is only available as 32-bit. They would have to purchase SQL Server Standard Edition.

A: Workgroup Edition has 3GB RAM limit, 2 CPUs limit = 2 Processors, No failover such as clustering or mirroring and No analysis tools.

The Standard Edition has the memory that is the Operating System maximum and CPUs limit = 4 Processors.

A: The training voucher covers as many people as they want trained in that day.

A: Only Perpetual licences may be transferred and transfers must be permanent. All the licences within an agreement have to be transferred, including Software Assurance and Microsoft have to be notified in writing.

A: Upgrades are only available for operating systems under Open licensing. In this circumstance, they will need to purchase an FPP product T75-01260 Small Business Server 2003 Premium inc 5 CAL Product Ugrade R2 - Retail Boxed.

A: Upgrades are usually unavailable through Open licensing. However, they are currently offering one upgrade which is for Vista.

A: Web conferencing capability is not included in Office Communicator but can be done using a combination of communicator and office communications server or office LiveMeeting.

Web conferencing capabitlity in Office Communications Server 2007 provides web conferencing to users via an on-premises solution residing inside the corporate firewall.

Office LiveMeeting is a hosted web conferencing service which will continue to be offered as a hosted service in addition to the on-premises office communications server 2007 product.

To purchase office communicator, office communications server standard, office server standard cal and office communications server enterprise CAL these are available as open licensing. Also Communicator can be purchased alone or as part of office 2007 Professional Plus.

LiveMeeting is a hosted service and is only available under an open value agreement.

A: If both servers are on the same domain, they they need only one set of CALs to cover both servers. If they are on different domains, they they will need 2 sets of 50 CALs.

A: There are no upgrades available from Standard to Enterprise.

A: We have been advised that it will be 64-bit. However, for Premium there will be a 32-bit as well.

A: Windows Server Enterprise allows 4 free virtualization instances per OS licence. I assume that when your customer says 'guest' systems, he means virtual environments.

A: A Windows Storage Server is a dedicated file and print server designed for dependability, ease of integration and value. What this means is its a server built on Windows Server as a fixed function device. All the functionality which is unrelated to file serving has been removed which increases the reliabiltiy and lower the CPU overhead.

The Windows Storage Server contains important features not available on Windows Server that include an advanced storage manager for file filtering and quota management, a new Network File System (NFS) Server to improve performance and a fully integrated Web-based user interface for remote management.

This solution is recommended for organizations that have multiple existing file servers that are experiencing growth in data requirements or want to consolidate storage in one central area.

Windows Storage Server can only be sold to specific OEM'S who build servers. The link below will provide a list of those that can sell it:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/wss2003/howtobuy/default.mspx

A: Vista Business is only available as an upgrade. In order to purchase the upgrade, you will need to have an existing operating system on the computer.