Hi, For licensing related issue, you’d better contact Microsoft licensing team. In the United States and Canada, you may call the licensing team directly at 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4), Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. In this way, you will know the detailed information about license. Worldwide customers can use the Guide to Worldwide Microsoft Licensing Sites http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/worldwide.aspx to find contact information in their locations. Thank you for your understanding! Regards, Arthur Li TechNet Community Support

Hi, For licensing related issue, you’d better contact Microsoft licensing team. In the United States and Canada, you may call the licensing team directly at 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4), Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. In this way, you will know the detailed information about license. Worldwide customers can use the Guide to Worldwide Microsoft Licensing Sites http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/worldwide.aspx to find contact information in their locations. Thank you for your understanding! Regards, Arthur Li TechNet Community Support

In general, the channel that you purchase these products through--OEM or volume, of which Open is one example--doesn't matter. Do whatever gets you the best price, as long as other criteria are equal. The main requirement is that the CALs match the server version, which should not be a problem since any new CALs you purchase now will match the server version you purchase now. What I would recommend in your situation is this, since it will probably get you the best price on everything. Start a new Open License authorization (if you don't already have one) and purchase both the Server and the CALs (both Windows Server CALs and RDS CALs) through it. You need a minimum of 5 licenses to start an Open authorization, so you should be fine there. That will get you a volume discount on not only the CALs but also the server, if you buy all of them through Open. Paul DeGroot Principal Consultant Pica Communications "Solving the Microsoft Licensing Puzzle"

Hi Guys, I am setting up a 2008 R2 Standard server to replace a 2003 Server. The new server will have 15 - 20 wkstations and run Remote desktop for them and the CALS for access and RD will be per user. My Q? is regarding the sales type of CAL (not user V. device). I see some resellers listing the CALS as OEM, unspecified (assuming retail), and some as open/volume/ OLP. The RDP CALS all seem to be the same and under open license with the older Terminal Service Licenses which used to be interchangeable still being sold (???phased out in favor of RDP in '09 ???). If I am using a retail version of 2008 R2 Standard, which type of CAL can I use? Can I use Open license cals (since I need more than 5) with a retail or OEM OS? Vice Versa? All literature I found so far only discusses the per user/device aspect and only mentions OS version (not OS license type -- OEM, RETAIL, Open/volume... and mixing cal type and OS type. Thought I'd ask here before breaking out the old Phone and calling MS. TIA