Citrix Presentation Server and MS Office

[GoldenWonder]

I'm looking into opening remote access to our network by setting up Citrix PS and giving the users access to the school network applications etc.

 

I can cost the licensing of Citrix, and the MS TS CALS, but one question no supplier has answerd confidently is that of licensing the Office 2003 users.

 

We have around 300 licences for Office 2003 Pro, bought in various sized blocks (Select agreement). What I'm trying to find out though is if I have to buy an extra Office licence for every remote access user that logs in or for only for the number of concurrent remote users?

 

We have 200 users who will use this, but only 30 at a time, and 30 licences is a lot cheaper than 200!

[Geoff]

Office CALs are per device.

[Ashers]

At last something I can answer.

 

Firstly all thick client machines with Office Installed need a licence.

 

Then each user on the TS will need a licence up to the number of devices you have connecting to the servers. With this exception, any fat client machines you have connecting to the TS that have office installed locally don't need an extra licence.

 

You don't require licences for the TS servers themselves.

 

If you lock down the appication so that it can only be run by X number of users at any one time (don't ask me how) and this is less than your device count then you can purchase just that number of licences.

 

I covered all this when I worked for the sofware licencing team at British Gas.

[Geoff]

Fair enough, I bow to your superior knowledge on the subject (Seriously though, licensing sucks arse. I figure they make it complex on purpose, to trip you up!).

[Ric_]

There is an exception incidentally. If you use 'per device' CALs for Exchange you will need one for evrey client device PLUS one for each terminal server. Personally, I think that this is a little daft but that's MS licensing for you :?

[wesleyw]

With TS CALs you can license per user not device not sure if thats the case with office CALs though. I'd have to ring MS again and ask they are extremely helpful I have to admit. No sarcasm intended!!!!

 

 

Wes