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I don't have own a horse in this race, (but I do
bet on a few). :-)
I would suspect that the info provided by MB Smith
is likely what M$ says.
I would also suspect that our "optomistic" view of
what we have heard about we can use it for "internal" use is what we heard and
not what they mean.
It may even be a case of splitting hairs. For
instance I could argue we can use SQL to control our RASes and E-Mail servers
"internally" because no one can see that SQL data... but we can't let people see
their accounting info in Rodopi or perhaps the Quarantined Mail in Modus because
that is Extenal viewing of data.
Which causes me great consternation because it is
my data not theirs. They generated nothing, yet they claim control over
it.
Now I would understand that I can't sell ODBC
SQL data services to third parties using the Action Pac Platform as the
serving device.
All in all, I would suggest that people either look
at the cost of having proper licenses where they might need them, or look at
migrating to lower cost options if $300 Action Pac is the right price, but it
legal usability isn't crystal clear.
If $x,000 is within your budget fine. If $300
is all you want to pay, you are probably in jeapordy somewhere as a practical
matter. Maybe it is you public website or Rodopi or Webmail site that is
clearly in violation.
One other point is that as I understand it,
ActionPacks are not as cheap as you might think. They need to be renewed,
where as a "bought license" is good for ever. The renewal may be a decent
expense over a period of time, itself.
Cary Fitch
Attend
Peering Conference for ISP's, &
meet Vircom; GlobalPops & W.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 1:17
PM
Subject: [Modus] Off Topic
Because the
licensing questions raised over the last few days could have a significant
monetary impact on my company and the interpretations varied so widely, I
continued to investigate through my Microsoft resources and with them, through
the standard licensing resources available on the Microsoft website and
toll-free numbers. I just got off a conference call on licensing with a
ridiculous number of people. As part of that call, we called the toll-free
Microsoft Licensing Helpline to verify the answers that everyone from
Microsoft was giving was the same, and they were.
You can choose to
believe what I share with you or not. In the US, you can call a
Microsoft Licensing Specialist at 800-426-9400 and verify the information for
yourself (or not as you so choose). There are different numbers for different
countries: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/index/worldwide.asp.
The Canada licenses appear to be the same as the US. The United Kingdom
licenses have some minor differences in wording, but no apparent difference in
intent.
2) Specifically in
regards to the Action Pack, for most servers and services provided with the
Action Pack, you are provided a server license plus 10 CALs for Internal Use
only. Internal Use means (and you can find it defined in the PUR in legal
detail) your company. Any external access, or access through
an external agent (such as a program that runs on a web server and allows
access to anyone who isn't an employee of your company) is a violation of
internal use. A "client to whom you provide hosted services" is specifically
mentioned as an external user. A specific exemption is granted for intranets
on the internet.
3) I quote, in
regards to SQL CAL requirements specifically: "You must acquire either a
separate SQL server 2000 CAL or BackOffice 2000 Server CAL for each device or
user that: Accesses or otherwise utiliizes the services of the Server
software." This includes agents, such as a program which multiplexes multiple
connections into a single actual connection. A separate paragraph for SQL
per-processor licensing states: "You need one processor license for each
of your server's processors." Multiplexing/connection pooling has its own
special page in the PUR. Multiplexing and connection pooling are done
by OBDC and IIS, as well as by the Modus Webmail
server.
Therefore,
if Modus is configured using ODBC access to a MS-SQL server you
must either have a CAL for each and every single user in
Modus or you must have a per-processor license for SQL to be "legally"
licensed. An Action Pack license in no way provides a license to provide
any hosted services.
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