Hello,I have a question regarding the licencing of MSFT. Currently we support a program (webbased)that runs on IIS6.0 + SQL2005 on W2K3 with SP2.Our hard- and software supplier tells us that he can only deliver W2K8 which we can downgrade.All this in combination with the question on the # of clients he has to offer.The supplier can only deliver W2K8 in a OpenLicence form?Now. I did a little reading and the OpenLicence form is just a term MSFT uses right?But the # of clients confuses me a bit. If the users only connect via IIS you don't need thesame amount of CALS right? Or do we only need the CAL(s) that the IIS connect to the SQL environment.The story is perhaps a bit confusing, but maybe someone can give some pointers.Thanks,Thijs KromhoutNetherlands.

Hello Thijs Kromhout, For licensing questions, please call 1-800-426-9400 (select option 4), Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (PST). A Microsoft licensing specialist can help you on that. Also you may can use the Guide to Worldwide Microsoft Licensing Sites http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/index/worldwide.mspx to find contact information in your location. Hope it helps.David Shen - MSFT

I would contact another supplier. A reputable supplier will give you what you require, not what is easiest for the supplier. With a downgrade licence, the supplier should provide a machine with the downgrade OS intalled ready to run and the necessary media to upgrade when you want/need to! If your supplier is not prepared to do that, look elsewhere. Bill

Hi Bill,Ok. That clarifies already a lot for me. But the question on the # of CALS remainsa tat confusing. As long as you don't use authentication on the IIS part you dontneed a CAL right?Thanks for the help so far!Regards,Thijs Kromhout