There is a little confusion around the Server and Client Access Licesnes around Exchange 2007. I am going to attempt to clear up the licensing and configuration quesitons in this post. Let’s begin…

There are two types of Exchange Server 2007 Licenses - Standard and Enterprise. This is the same as with Exchange 2003/2000/5.5 etc.

  • Exchange Server Standard does not allow clustering and has limits on storage -although starge limited have been tremendously increased.
  • Exchange Server Enterprise (from a high level) provides the ability to build high-availabilty clusters, and increases the storage limits per server.

There are two types of Client Access Licenses - Standard and Enterprise.

  • Exchange Standard CAL privides the same functionality the Exchange 2003 and prior CAL provided (with the exception of the Outlook client license is no longer included with any Exchange 2007 CAL) . You get the mailbox access, calendaring/scheduling, contacts, notes, OWA, etc. If you have Software Assurance on Exchange 2003 CALs, you are automatically entitled to the Exchange Stadard CAL.
  • Exchange Enterprise CAL is an additive CAL -which means you have to purchase a Standard CAL + Enterprise CAL. This CAL adds the Unified Communications (UC) functionality*, Exchange Hosted Services (EHS) [Anti-virus & Anti-spam filtering of your email before it reaches your network], ForeFront Security for Exchange [Server-based Anti-virus for Exchange Mail and Server].

    • * this includes such functionality as tying into your phone system and adding voicemail capabilities to the Exchange Mailbox, dialinf into Exchange and having your messages (E-mail, V-mail, Calendar items) read to you over the phone. you can also change calendar items via voice.  

    Where the confusion often occurs is that many think that if you have and Enterprise Server you need an Enterprise CAL. This is not the case. Lets run through some examples:

    • 1. If you do not need high-availability and do not want the UC functionality, EHS, or Forefront you can purchase Exchange Server Standard and Exchange Standard CAL.
    • 2. If you do need high-availability and do not want the UC functionality, EHS, or Forefront you can purchase Exchange Server Enterprise and Exchange Standard CAL.
    • 3. If you do not need high-availability and do want the UC functionality, EHS, or Forefront you can purchase Exchange Server Standard and Exchange Enterprise CAL (+Standard CAL).
    • 4. If you do need high-availability and do want the UC functionality, EHS, or Forefront you can purchase Exchange Server Enterprise and Exchange Enterprise CAL (+Standard CAL).

    This post does not attmept to address scenarios where you may have different Exchange Server roles (such as Mailbox Server, Mail Transport, Hygene, Edge, UC) in the environment where you may mix the editions of Exchange Servers - such as Clustered Mailbox Servers running Exchange Server Enterprise and Hub Transport running on Exchange Server Standard. This post is to help clear up the misunderstanding in the licensing scenarios.

    As always, before you make a purchase decision you should work with a Microsoft Certified Partner or you Microsoft Rep to understand and determine your specific licenisng needs.

    Here are a few Microsoft resources that will provide further details about the functionality and the licensing of Exchange 2007…