We think we're going to use Sharepoint Server 2010 as a platform for our website and I have a query regarding the licences we're going to require. We're probably going to have a web application server and two database servers. The users of this system will be our staff members accessing the site by login forms based or through windows authentication either is fine. Additionally there will be organizations partnered with us logging in using form-based authentication outside our office premises. There will also be a third kind of user. These will be other single users from other organizations who, in a previous step separate from the Sharepoint site be granted a login (through email or something), which they'll use again with form-based authentication. We would also like to have Sharepoint Enterprise and FAST Search features available. So, how many and what variety of licences will we need, or what would be the best approach? All told we will probably end up having quite a lot of users, maybe 50 of our own staff in 5 years and 1000 partner users. Thanks for any help!

Hi, The licence does not keep any limit over the number of users. You need to have enterprise licence to use enterprise features. I hope this will help you out.Thanks, Rahul Rashu

Attached SP2010 license information in brief - This will help to identify license mode for you environment. SharePoint Foundation Server 2010 is free offering replacing WSS 3.0. and will have the usual limits of SQL Express and Search Express. Standard SharePoint functions will be base around Collaboration, Enterprise Search, Document and Content Management, Social Computing (Wikis, My Sites), Digital Asset Management (including Silverlight) and Records Management. Enterprise comes with the fallowing lists: Excel Services Performance Point Services Advanced Charting Visio Services Access Services InfoPath Form Services Client line of business integration and web parts Custom Reports In addition, server licenses can be upgraded to use FAST search. With FAST, the server licenses break into Standard and Enterprise as before but this time there are both intranet and internet versions included. For intranet solutions the Client Access Model remains with the need to buy both a Standard and Enterprise CAL to access Enterprise features. For FAST although the license upgrade is for the server users utilizing it will still need an Enterprise CAL.SharePoint 2010 Online for intranet will continue with the current User Subscription License based on Enterprise, Standard and Desk-less (read and form filling only). It will also have an Internet and Partner Access versions. Partner Access is effectively an extranet option.SharePoint Designer 2010 is free SharePoint Workspace comes with Office 2010 Pro+Project Server 2010 - Needs additional Project CAL & SharePoint Enterprise CALSQL Server Power Pivot - SQL Enterprise Edition if used on intranet for Office 2010 to be surfaced in SharePoint then Enterprise CAL is required. FAST - Fast Search Server 2010 for Internet Business (exists a non-SharePoint version of FAST) Thank you, Raj