B r i e f

Licensing Windows Client and Server Operating Systems in Multiuser Scenarios

February 2010

 Licensing Information for Volume Licensing Customers 

Summary
This licensing brief can help clarify Microsoft’s Volume Licensing policies for the Windows® client,
Windows Server®, and Windows MultiPoint® Server operating systems when the potential for multiuser
scenarios exists. The Windows client operating system license terms do not permit multiple users to
access or otherwise use one licensed copy of the software simultaneously. However, Windows Server
operating systems and Windows MultiPoint Server are designed and licensed for multiuser scenarios and
should be used for all Windows multiuser scenarios.

Programs such as the Microsoft® Office System suite and/or individual Microsoft Office suite components
require individual licenses for each device on which they are used, whether they are running locally on the
device or remotely on a shared server operating system.

What’s New in this Brief

 This brief replaces a previous version published in March 2008.
 Significant changes in this brief include:
o New document title
o Updated references to the Windows 7 operating system
o Updated references to Remote Desktop Services (formerly Terminal Services)
o New information regarding Windows MultiPoint Server for Academic environments

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT. This information is provided to help guide your authorized use of products you license; it is not your agreement. Your
use of products licensed under your volume license agreement is governed by the terms and conditions of that agreement. In the
case of any conflict between this information and your agreement, the terms and conditions of your agreement control. Prices for
licenses acquired through Microsoft resellers are determined by the reseller.
Details

Multiuser Scenarios with Windows Client Operating Systems

Windows client operating systems license terms do not permit multiple users to access or otherwise use
one licensed copy of the software simultaneously. Figure 1 shows multiple users simultaneously
accessing a single licensed copy of the Windows client operating system in an unauthorized manner.

Figure 1: Multiple users simultaneously accessing a single licensed copy of the Windows 7 client.

 No licensing terms exist that allow shared use of the Windows client operating system in the
manner illustrated in Figure 1. Under current licensing terms, each host computer or access
device using Windows 7, Windows Vista®, or Windows XP must have either a license for such
Windows client operating system purchased through the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
channel or the retail/full packaged product (FPP) channel, or a Volume Licensing upgrade
purchased on top of a qualifying operating system license.
 The Software License Terms (formerly referred to as the EULA) and Microsoft Product Use
Rights (PUR) provide that Windows client operating systems are licensed under the following
terms:
o One license for each device on or from which the client operating system is accessed or
used;
o One user accessing the software at a time;
o No use of the client operating system’s runtime and other files to run applications not
running on the software;

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT.
 o A device can access the Windows client operating system and is appropriately licensed
to run the software.

Multiuser Scenarios with Windows Server Operating Systems

While the Windows client operating system does not permit licensing a multiuser solution, the Windows
Server operating systems provide a multiuser solution using Remote Desktop Services and/or other
technologies.

Figure 2: Multiple users can access a licensed instance of Windows Server if every accessing user or
device has a Windows Server CAL and Remote Desktop Services CAL.

The Windows Server license terms and PUR specify that both a Windows Server Client Access License
(CAL) and Remote Desktop Services CAL (RDS CAL) are required whenever a user is remotely
connecting to Windows Server to display, access, or use a graphical user interface (for example, a
desktop PC or application).

The RDS CAL is required regardless of the technology used to access the server remotely (Microsoft
Remote Desktop Services or other third-party software).

Both device and user variants of the RDS CAL are available so that customers can make the best CAL
purchase decisions based on their individual needs.

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT.
Multiuser Scenarios with Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic

Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 is designed specifically for multiuser scenarios. Introduced in March
2010 and based on the latest Windows technology, MultiPoint Server enables multiple users to
simultaneously share one host computer. Each user has his or her own independent and familiar
Windows computing experience at stations directly connected to the host computer.

Users can acquire MultiPoint Server in two ways:

1. Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic: From Academic Volume Licensing channels
2. Windows MultiPoint Server 2010: Preinstalled with a computer from OEMs

Station 1

Host Computer Station 2

Station n

Figure 3: Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic Licensing Model — Multiple users can access one
license of Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic if every accessing device or user has a Windows
MultiPoint Server CAL and a Windows Server CAL.

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT.
 Station 1

Host Computer Station 2

Station 10

Figure 4: Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 (OEM) Licensing Model — Up to 10 users can access one license
of Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 if every accessing device or user has a Windows MultiPoint Server CAL.

The Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic license terms and PUR specify that a Windows Server
2008 CAL and Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 CAL is required whenever a user or device is connecting
to a Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic operating system.

The Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 license terms specify that a Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 CAL is
required whenever a device is connecting to a Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 operating system.

Both device and user variants of the Windows MultiPoint 2010 Server CAL are available so that
customers make the best CAL purchase decisions based on their individual needs.

NOTE: Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic is only available to qualified Academic Users,

Campus Agreements and School Agreements

Under the terms of Microsoft Volume Licensing Campus Agreements and School Agreements, licenses
that allow a desktop PC device to either run Microsoft products or access Microsoft server resources must
be purchased institution wide. (These licenses are known as “Desktop licenses.”) To access the server
resources, each desktop PC requires its own CAL. The two agreements differ in their CAL purchase
requirements based on how they define “institution wide”:

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT.
 Campus Agreement Customers: “Institution wide” for campus customers is the number of all full-time
employees (FTE) and staff. “Server Licenses” that allow a server to run Microsoft products can be
purchased on an as-required basis for specific servers. However, the number of Desktop Licenses
(such as Windows Upgrade or Windows Server CAL and MultiPoint CAL) purchased must match the
number of FTE and staff in the institution. This policy applies even when FTEs and staff members use
two or more Desktop Licenses in a mutually exclusive manner (for example, using only a Windows
MultiPoint terminal and not a standard PC with Windows).
 School Agreement Customers: “Institution wide” for school customers is the number of all “eligible
PCs” owned or leased by the institution. Each MultiPoint terminal is considered an “eligible PC,”’ and
must be counted. As a result, the number of all Desktop Licenses (such as Windows Upgrade or
Windows Server CAL and MultiPoint CAL) purchased must match the number of ALL eligible PCs
owned/leased by the school. This policy applies even when the use of two Desktop Licensed
products is mutually exclusive or not (for example, if one product used on a MultiPoint Terminal,
cannot also be used on a standard PC under the same license or vice versa; both products need to
be purchased institution wide.)

NOTE: An academic institution can use two different products, Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 CAL
(WMS CAL) and Windows Client on a mutually exclusive basis. If an academic institution orders both of
these products, then both Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 CAL and Windows Client must be purchased
on an institution-wide basis. Alternatively, the institution can acquire the Windows MultiPoint Server 2010
CAL under Academic Open, Select License, or Select Plus Agreements for just the number of seats
required. This policy applies for both Campus Agreement and School Agreement. (Windows Server CALs
for all devices/users are also required but are included with these agreements.)

Microsoft Desktop Application Licensing in a Multiuser Environment:

Enabling Multiuser Scenarios

Microsoft licenses its desktop PC applications on a per-device basis, which means that customers must
obtain a license for each desktop PC on or from which the product is used or accessed. When Microsoft
desktop PC programs are used in a shared environment, a license must be acquired for every device
(desktop PC, thin client, etc.) that remotely accesses the desktop PC program installed on the multiuser
system. This license must match the suite/edition, components, language, and the version of the copy of
the program being accessed.
For example:
 Product (or suite): Microsoft Office Standard 2007 and Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2007
are different products (or suites). A desktop PC licensed for Office Standard 2007 cannot
remotely access and use Office Professional Plus 2007.

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT.
  Components: A license for a suite (for example, a Microsoft Office suite) for the accessing
device (desktop PC, thin client, etc.) must have exactly the same components as the copy of the
Microsoft Office suite being remotely accessed.
 Language: The English/multilanguage version of the Microsoft Office suite cannot be accessed
remotely from a desktop PC that is licensed for a single language version of the Microsoft Office
suite. Likewise, remote access to a licensed copy of Microsoft Office Multi-Language Pack 2007
requires that the accessing desktop PC be licensed for the Office Multi-Language Pack 2007.
 Version: Microsoft Office System 2003 and the 2007 Microsoft Office system are different
versions. You may not remotely access the 2007 Microsoft Office system from a desktop PC that
is licensed for Microsoft Office System 2003.

When a Microsoft desktop application is accessed remotely across an organization using Windows Server
Remote Desktop Services, a separate desktop application license is required for each desktop PC from
which the application is accessed.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a Volume Licensing customer, can I buy new devices that do not have an operating system
preinstalled (“naked” PCs)?
Although you can buy devices without an operating system installed, it does not always make the most
financial sense. Microsoft Volume Licensing programs only offer upgrade licenses for the Windows client
operating system. They do not offer full licenses. Two ways are available for you to acquire full licenses:
through an OEM or the retail channel. If you purchase PCs without an operating system, you need to
license the Windows operating system through the retail channel. However, the retail price is frequently
higher, which means that the best solution is generally to request that your new devices come licensed
with a preinstalled OEM version of the Windows client operating system (for example, Windows 7
Professional).

You cannot buy the Microsoft Volume Licensing upgrade license without having a licensed copy of a
qualifying desktop PC operating system installed on your device. For more information about which
editions of the Windows operating system qualify for upgrades under Volume Licensing agreements visit:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/windows.

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT.
The Microsoft Volume Licensing PUR document says I can use desktop application software on a
network device. What does this mean?
Under the network use provision, you can run this desktop application software on a network server and
then access and use the software from your licensed desktop PCs using Remote Desktop Services (or
similar functionality).

How can I provide my users with a multiuser system?

Users can acquire MultiPoint Server in two ways:
1. Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic: From Academic Volume Licensing channels
2. Windows MultiPoint Server 2010: Preinstalled with a computer from OEMs

As a Campus Agreement or School Agreement customer, I already have Windows Server CALs.
Now I want to use Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic. Do I need to repurchase Windows
Server CALs for this product?
No. Volume Licensing Academic customers who have already licensed Windows Server 2008 CALs only
need to purchase the Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic license and Windows MultiPoint Server
2010 CALs. Customers can use their existing Windows Server CALs to meet the Windows CAL
requirements of Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Academic.

For More Information

Additional information is available from the following sites:

Enabling Multiuser Scenarios—Presentation Virtualization Using Remote Desktop Services:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/presentation-terminal.aspx

Licensing of Microsoft Desktop Application Software for Use with Windows Server Remote
Desktop Services: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx

Operating System License Requirements—Initial Operating System and Transfer of License:

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx

2007 Microsoft Office System Components/Migrations/Step-Up License/Multilanguage/OEM

Enrollment: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx

Microsoft Product Use Rights: http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userights/PUR.aspx

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS
DOCUMENT.