Using win2k CD and Key code on someone elses server?

[ITR]

I'm building a server for a client, and my manager told me I can use our win2k cd and cdkey to build it since he already bought the license for the client.

Is this okay? It seems like bad practice to me...






.

 

[butchrecon]

IF he purchased the license for the client then why is your company running it. You cannot install the Server OS on two machine using the same CDKEY. This is in breach of the license agreement. If he purchased it for the other company then he will need to remove it from his company's system. Very poor practice. James Collins
Hardware Engineer
A+ Certified Professional
Network+ Certified Professional
Microsoft Certified Professional

 

[ITR]

I dont think I explained the situation well. We have a few win2k server cds that we use for our servers(all of which are licensed). We bought one of our clients a 5 user win2k server license so I can upgrade their webserver to win2k. Apparently when my manager bought the license for this company, they didn't send the media, so I've been told to use our media.

 

[flipineck]

I've got a similar problem at work. My manager thinks he's bought a 5 site license for £500, I hope he's right. My impression is we need a server license with 50 Client user at each site, only 1 server per site, for about £1,500.
Where is the best place to find the proper answer, went to Microsofts site, but couldn't solve the issue 100%.
Any info would be great, cheers.

 

[butchrecon]

Is it a 5 user pack of user licenses or Windows 2K server with 5 users? If it is just the addon user packs then you will still need to purchase a server license. User packs are not the same as server licenses. You cannot jsut install your server license then add the 5 users to that.

I am unsure of the site license thing. I believe (Not entirely sure though) that even if you rpurchase a site license you still have to purchase individual licenses for the clients to access server.
This article may help:Q273475 on microsoft knowlege base. James Collins
Hardware Engineer
A+ Certified Professional
Network+ Certified Professional
Microsoft Certified Professional

 

[doomhamur]

Here is the what I understand about licensing:

1. you must have a server license for each installed copy of win2k server.

2. you must have a client access licens for each PC on the network, no matter how many sites you have.

3. If all sites are in a single domain, you can enter the total number of client access licenses in your company on the master global catalog server (the first server you built in the domain) and it will replicate to the rest of the domain. If each site is its own child domain you must enter the nuber of client access licenses into each domain controler for the number of PC's you have at each site.

Have a nice day,
Doomhamur
Network Engineer

 

[butchrecon]

Thats what I was thinking as well. Thanks for the assistance Doomhamur. James Collins
Hardware Engineer
A+ Certified Professional
Network+ Certified Professional
Microsoft Certified Professional

 

[flipineck]

Thanks for the feedback.
From what I've seen of it, it's a server license with a 5 client access. That would mean to me, we can use it only on one server machine with 5 machines accessing it at any one time. My boss seems to think it's a 5 site license, it only cost £500. If that was the case, why would anybody complain about the cost?
We're only a relatively small place, about 35 computers per site. Previously, everything was on peer-peer. Now we're going to client/server, which I've used before but not setup. I'd love a client/server environment, my knowledge would increase tenfold, but we only need shared Internet access. Seems like overkill to me, plus I'd feel more reassured if I knew we'd got the License right.

 

[butchrecon]

500 UK dollars, what is that in US dollars? About $900? That would be about the cost of Windows 2000 Server with 5 user license. Not a site license. James Collins
Hardware Engineer
A+ Certified Professional
Network+ Certified Professional
Microsoft Certified Professional

 

[flipineck]

Yes, thats about $900 I guess, butchrecon.
At the minute we're copying the Site license and using it at the other 2 sites, what do you reckon? Three sites with about 35 computers at each site, I reckon we need 3 Server licenses with 50 client access. I've been to the Microsoft web site and the price seems to be about £1,500 ( what's that US, about $2,200 ).

The company I work at is relatively small, but actually doesn't mind paying for the right stuff. So it's not like we're cheap, I think just misinformed.
Another question would be, what would happen if we didn't have the right stuff? Would we get Microsoft Lawyers following us home, seems to me a bit of a landmine.

 

[butchrecon]

You could call Microsofts Piracy hotline (1800rulegit) and get the right way from them. I suggest a licensed 2000 server at each site and installing it correctly that way. Again you may want to contact MS's piracy line to get the real story. James Collins
Hardware Engineer
A+ Certified Professional
Network+ Certified Professional
Microsoft Certified Professional

 

[doomhamur]

If all you are looking for is shared internet access, there are other ways to do it. as far as your sites, you would need 3 server licenses and 35 CALs per site. If you are going to use ISA server to share your internet access, it is licensed on a per processor basis. if you need ISA on all 3 servers, then you will need as many ISA licenses as you have processors, unless you baught Small business server.

if you have a WAN and are useing a single internet access point, i would go with Small business server. You can find out more about it at

http://www.microsoft.com/sbserver/evaluation/overview/default.asp

SBS has Win2k server, ISA, Exchange, SQL 2000 and serveral other apps.

Building an Active Directory Domain is very complex, i would find a consultant to help desing your network infrastructure and help with AD desing or you could have some real problems. Doomhamur
Network Engineer
"Certifications? we dont need no stinking certifiaction."

 

[rrsub]

As far as the original question goes,

Yes you can use ANY CD key that will work for installing Windows 2000.

As I have spoken with them about it, it is the license that matters, not the CD key. The Product Key is a different matter but not the CD key.

 

[flipineck]

Thanks all for the tips, looks like I've a lot to read before going back to work. Hope you all had a good Christmas.

 

[Mturner]

bit OT, but when i get me new station, could i have it oem licenced for win NTwrk/2kpro and xp pro all in one so i can play with diffrent os's?
when we first got 2k we were running 6 servers illegally due to proccessors, we had quad processors in them and only had the licence for 1-2 cpu's!, thats sorted now though, it really should be documented better
Marc Turner
Network Manager

E-Mail: Mturner@turnerm3.fsnet.co.uk

 

[PHead2]

You can use the same CD and key on as many machines as you like, but you do need to buy enough licenses for all of the servers and clients.

I use the same CD and key for all of our servers and we've got alot of them....