Effective July 31, 2002, Microsoft will modify its licensing scheme. If you or your customers have Microsoft software, I highly encourage you to read the following articles. One such modification involves buying assurances every two years. If these assurances are not purchased on or before the two year deadline, the licensing will lapse and Mircosoft will force the customer to purchase new software.

Please refer to the Hybinette pricelist for the most up-to-date price on Microsoft software. Prices include two year assurance.

Microsoft Announces Software Assurance Program
An Overview of Software Assurance
www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/sadefined.asp

An Overview of Software Assurance
April 1, 2002

Software Assurance (SA), available now, is a simpler way for Volume Licensing customers to obtain and manage the latest and most innovative Microsoft® products. SA replaces previous one-time upgrade programs, including Upgrade Advantage (UA), Version Upgrade (VUP), Product Upgrade (PUP), and Competitive Upgrade (CUP). Under the SA program, customers acquire the right to install any new release of products covered in the agreement during the specified time period.

Key benefits of the SA program include:

Comprehensive technology protection. With Software Assurance, you can install any new release for licensed products enrolled in Software Assurance that become available during the covered period on your own schedule.
Predictable budgeting. Software Assurance enables you to spread your license payments over three years when you purchase Software Assurance through the Select or Enterprise Agreement programs. In addition, you will avoid the financial spikes associated with varying product release schedules.
Better license management. With Software Assurance, you can standardize on software versions throughout your organization and maintain competitiveness through the latest products and technologies.
Cost savings. Software Assurance upgrade coverage is priced at 29 percent of the Upgrade License price per year for eligible application products (i.e., Microsoft Windows®, Microsoft Visio®, Microsoft SQL Server™, Microsoft Project, and Microsoft Office), and at 25 percent for eligible Microsoft server products (i.e., Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and Microsoft Exchange Server).
How It Works
For new license agreements, simply order License and Software Assurance (L&SA) for any Microsoft software product offered through the Open License 6.0 or Select License 6.0 programs. You will receive the right to run the current version of the product as well as any new versions released during the term of your coverage as part of your new agreement.

Note: Software Assurance benefits are automatically included in Enterprise Agreement 6.0 and Enterprise Subscription Agreement 6.0.

Current license holders may transition your licenses to an SA agreement anytime between now and July 31, 2002. You will immediately enjoy the benefits of the SA program, including the right to use any new versions of the products included in your agreement during the term of coverage. In addition, you can continue to obtain the rights to use future versions of the product by renewing Software Assurance and your volume licensing agreement once your original agreement has expired.

Select License customers in the United States who acquire Software Assurance for every new license ordered within a specific product pool (applications, systems, or servers) and all Enterprise Agreement 6.0 and Enterprise Subscription Agreement customers qualify for Software Assurance Membership and expanded support offerings.

Why Transition Now?
After July 31, 2002, Microsoft's new Volume Licensing program will be fully implemented. Purchasing Licenses, or Licenses and Software Assurance together, will be the way customers obtain rights to future versions of products.

However, before that change, many customers will find that the most cost-effective way to obtain rights to those future versions of software is to purchase Upgrade Advantage or Software Assurance.

By doing this, you will gain access to the technology you need to stay ahead of your competition in the most cost-effective way possible. And, if you intend to move to the new version any of your company's desktop software during the next three and a half years or server software in the next four years, you can save by purchasing licenses and Upgrade Advantage or Software Assurance now.

Then, you can implement improvements on your schedule, as new products are released, or as your needs change—whether that's tomorrow or two years from now.

* Taken from www.microsoft.com

Please call Hybinette at 303-987-3771 to ensure that your MS licensing requirements are current.

Users are defined as any computer that connects to a server.

Windows 2000 Client Access Licensing Overview

Windows 2000 Server Licensing Requirements
Microsoft offers flexible, cost-effective options for licensing Windows® 2000 Server family products.
You need a server license for each server within a Windows 2000 Server-based network and a Windows 2000 Server Client Access License (CAL) for each client computer that is used by an authenticated user or that uses Windows 2000 Server Services.
The majority of customer scenarios will require the same number of Windows 2000 CALs as they would with Windows NT® Server 4.0.
Authenticated Use Explained
An authenticated user is one who directly or indirectly uses the Windows 2000 Server Integrated Sign-on Service or receives credentials from the Windows 2000 Active Directory™ service.
Windows 2000 Server customers who may be affected by changes in license terms include users planning to access applications running on Windows 2000 Server and users connecting to Windows 2000 as a Web server:
§ Authenticated use by applications. Customers whose applications use Windows 2000 authentication or directory credentials will require CALs. Many such customers have already purchased CALs for other services such as file and print. But for those who do not have CALs for other purposes, CALs will be a new requirement.
§ Authenticated Internet access. Customers with Internet sites using Windows 2000 authentication will require CALs for authenticated users connecting to their sites. Such customers may comply with this licensing requirement by purchasing CALs in "Per seat" or "Per Server" mode. Or, they may opt to purchase the new Internet Connector license for unlimited Internet CALs as long as the devices are used by "Internet users" on a single server. Access to Internet sites by anonymous users does not require a CAL.
"Internet user" is defined as any person connected to the Internet, other than a person (i) employed by you (as an employee, independent contractor, agent, or in any other capacity); or (ii) otherwise providing goods or services to you (for example, one of your suppliers) or on your behalf (for example, one of your distributors or resellers, agents, or a consulting firm hired by you).
For authenticated "Internet users," you may substitute the Internet Connector for CALs.
Server Services Requiring CALs
Client computers accessing the following server services in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server-based network require Windows 2000 Server CALs:
§ File services. Accessing or managing files or disk storage.
§ Printing services. Printing to a printer managed by the product.
§ Remote Access Service. Accessing the server from a remote location through a communications link, including a virtual private network.
§ Terminal services. Using the terminal services feature of the server to enable client devices to use applications or data residing on the server.
Client Access Licenses: Per Seat vs. Per Server
The license model for Windows 2000 Server offers two distinct licensing modes for Client Access Licenses (CALs): Per Seat or Per Server.
Per Seat Licensing
§ Users acquire a CAL for each workstation or other device that connects to any licensed server. This includes users running Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, and Windows 2000 Professional. Note that a Windows 2000 Server CAL is required whether you use client software supplied by Microsoft or software from a third-party vendor.
§ Windows 2000 Server CAL is associated with a specific computer or client device (seat). Client computers are allowed access to any server within a Windows 2000 Server-based network, as long as each client machine is licensed with the appropriate Windows 2000 Server CAL.
Advantage
A per-seat license is most economical in distributed computing environments where multiple servers within an organization provide services to clients, such as a company that uses Windows 2000 Server for file and print services.
Per Server Licensing
§ Users have a set number of devices connected to a licensed server at a given time and customers need a sufficient number of CALs for that server to cover all the concurrent users of the server.
§ A Windows 2000 Server CAL is associated with a particular server. This alternative allows concurrent-use licensing: If customers decide to use the server in Per Server mode, they must have enough Windows 2000 Server CALs dedicated to that server to accommodate the maximum number of clients that will connect to that server at any one point in time. The server assigns Windows 2000 Server CALs temporarily to client computers; there is no permanent Windows 2000 Server CAL associated with a specific client machine. If a network environment has multiple servers, then each server in Per Server mode must have at least as many Windows 2000 Server CALs dedicated to it as the maximum number of clients that will connect to it at any one point in time. Under this option, the customer designates the number of Windows 2000 Server CALs that apply to the server during setup.
Advantage
A Per-Server license is most economical in single-server, occasional, or specialty-use server solutions. Some examples include Remote Access Service solutions, CD-ROM servers, or the initial server of a planned larger deployment.
Customers may select the alternative that best suits their organization, and purchase the relevant number of CALs. Note: It is not necessary to notify Microsoft of the licensing option selected.
For either option, a server license is also required for the right to run Windows 2000 Server server software on a particular system.