Question

user CALS

Updated January 31, 2017

asked on January 19, 2017 • Show version history

Our organization currently has 5 user CALS and I initially assumed that was sufficient because it's only service accounts accessing the database but for all I know each user launching the laserfiche workstation client might need to be covered by a CAL.

We are licensed with Lasefiche to allow a maximum of 23 users to have access to the laserfiche server at one time so does that mean we would only need to purchase 23 user CALS? Or would we need a user CAL for the 70 users that we have set up with an account?

That's for your help

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Replies

replied on January 19, 2017

Generally speaking, you need the same number of CALs as users you have in LF, not just service users. This is a license policy from Microsoft, not a technical LF question, so you may wish to ask for clarification from Microsoft.

There have been many previous discussions on the topic; this one has a lot of information and links to other, older posts.

In particular, in this forum post Karl Chan says:

If you have 10 users for LF then all 10 users have to be licensed for SQL. Look at "Choosing How to License SQL Server" at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2000/reskit/part2/c0461.mspx. Refer to the section talking about multiplexing because this is what Laserfiche does.

Dale Brumbaugh adds the following:

[...]you are mistaking what technically works and what legally works (according to Microsoft). [...] You could have a server license with a 5 CAL pack and connect hundreds of users to that server technically. Yet legally Microsoft requires a CAL for each client that accesses the server.

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replied on January 19, 2017 • Show version history

Is every user that is setup to access our repository in laserfiche via the workstation client, technically interacting with the SQL database no matter the function they are executing whether it be scanning, viewing documents or if they aren't even logged into laserfiche?

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View 3 previous replies

replied on January 19, 2017

The Laserfiche server connects to the MSSQL server on behalf of every Laserfiche user. This is required for any interaction with the repository: scanning, viewing documents, etc. I'm not sure what you are getting at with not being logged in to Laserfiche - what scenario do you have in mind there?

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replied on January 19, 2017 • Show version history

Is a user still accessing the server or interacting with the SQL database if they are not using the laserfiche program on their workstation?

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replied on January 19, 2017

I'm not clear when that would ever come up. Why would you have a user that was licensed to use Laserfiche, have it installed, but never uses it?

Or is this a shared workstation that is a named device, where some people on this workstation use Laserfiche, and some do not?

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replied on January 23, 2017

Hey, sorry for bugging you with dumb questions and I appreciate your help.

I have one more scenario to present. Say we set up 19 users with domain accounts in laserfiche and had 30 LF user licenses purchased because of the possibility that the users could be logged on to multiple workstations at the same time using the laserfiche program. When purchasing user CALS for the server, would you need 19 to cover the number of users or 30 to cover the number of possible connections?

Thanks again for all your help!

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replied on January 23, 2017 • Show version history

Could you also tell me if server 2016 is supported?

Thanks!

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replied on January 23, 2017

SQL 2016 is supported. Based on Microsoft's documentation cited above and in the threads Brianna linked, you'd need 30 CALs.

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replied on January 24, 2017 • Show version history

We currently use United which meets the needs of our organization. Can you tell me how long we would have before we are forced to upgrade to Rio or Avante or can we continue to use United if the OS supports it? Once we are required to upgrade, between Rio and Avante, which option would you recommend that most resembles United.

Thank you.

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replied on January 24, 2017

We have no current plans for that. Customers who are currently on United can continue to use it and it will be supported in the future. Some newer products may not be supported for use with United.

As for converting to Avante or Rio, you should contact your reseller and work with them and your Laserfiche regional manager to find the best solution. This is a technical forum, so we're not the best resource for license upgrades and trade-ins.

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replied on January 31, 2017 • Show version history

Our organization currently uses Laserfiche Standard/United/version 8.2.1. We are replacing our existing server and have a few questions.

Could we continue to use version 8.2.1 with the new server if we were using Windows Server 2016 OS and Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or downgraded versions of 2012?

If 8.2.1 is not viable and we decided to update the version to Avante 9.2.1 while continuing to use Standard/United licensing, does this allow us to continue to use concurrent licensed connections and also would it be best to update on the old server ahead of time and use it for awhile before we move everything over to the new server?

If we updated to Avante 9.2.1 what version of the OS and SQL do you recommend for the new server, would Windows Server 2016 and Microsoft SQL server 2016 be compatible with the understanding that you likely don't test it with 9.2.1 or would we need to downgrade the OS and SQL to 2012?

Thank you.

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replied on January 31, 2017

This is getting pretty far from the original post topic, so it would be best to start a new post.

Since you're a new user, you don't see the "New Post" button on the main screen (currently restricted to users with 100 or more reputation).

If you perform a search, you might find the answer to your question. If you don't, the option to ask a question should appear next to the search bar:

I've already asked the Answers team to improve the behavior so that new users can post most easily.

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user CALS

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