I've been running Windows Server 2012 Essentials in an organization that until recently stayed within the 25 user 50 network device limit specified by the license. Eventually we've grown beyond that. Since the Server 2012 Essentials machine had a non-transferable OEM license I decided not to waste it by doing an in-place migration to Server 2012 Standard, and instead set up a new server with freshly purchased Server 2012 R2 Standard and migrated Active Domain roles to it, leaving the original server as a part of a fail-over cluster.
We purchased 30 User CAL's for the 2012 R2, as required for 25+ staff members.
Now I am curious. The 2 servers that we have right now (2012 R2 Standard and 2012 Essentials) both maintain the same Active Directory and manage the same pool of users and workstations. Does that mean that the primary server with 30 User CAL's takes dominance and sets the limit as to how many people are allowed to access the network. Or does it become a combination of purchased 30 CAL's + 25 Users hard-wired into the 2012 Essential edition?
Do these servers have to run separate domains with segregated pools of users in order to be license compliant for 30+ users or can they exist within the same same domain preserving individual user limits? What if the 2012 Essentials server maintains
one office location with fewer than 25 staff and the Standard R2 2012 server runs another office with fewer than 30 staff, while both offices are linked via a VPN for the purpose of sharing 3rd party licenses? Do individual user limits apply, or is it still
30 users max?
To sum up the question, I'd like to know whether I'd need to buy more user CAL's when we reach more than 30 staff at 1 or possibly 2 office locations.
Oh, and the device limit! 2012 R2 Standard under user CAL licensing scheme has no machine limits. Essentials is always capped at 50. When running one active directory, what's the legally allowed number of devices on the network? I assume it's unlimited.
Thanks.
