Guide to Dynamics CRM Editions and Licensing

The purpose of this guide is to help you find the Dynamics CRM server and licenses appropriate to your organisation's needs.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is available in two editions, each appropriate for different sizes and types of organisations. Additionally, several different licensing configurations are available, depending on the number and kind of users who will access the CRM database, as well as the type of access necessary.

•    Server Editions
•    Client Access Licenses
•    External Connector Licenses
•    Upgrades from Dynamics CRM 4.0

Server Editions

Two separate versions of the Dynamics CRM 2011 server are available through CTX Programme: CRM Workgroup Server and CRM Server.

Dynamics CRM Workgroup Server 2011: Dynamics CRM Workgroup Server 2011 does not operate under the Server/CAL licensing model. CRM Workgroup Server 2011 includes licenses for a maximum of five users to access a server from any number of computers or other devices. There are no licenses available for additional users, devices, or external users.

Dynamics CRM Server 2011: Dynamics CRM Server 2011 offers a multi-tenant architecture. In other words, CRM Server 2011 allows organizations to maintain multiple, distinct CRM databases on one server with only one server license.


Client Access Licenses

Dynamics CRM Server 2011 requires a client access license (CAL) for each user or device accessing a server. There are five different types of CALs available on either a per-user or per-device model.

Employee Self Service CAL: The employee self service CAL provides a user with limited API access and limited read-write access to a CRM server.

Limited CAL: The limited CAL allows a user or device full read-only access and limited write access to a CRM server. In other words, users with a limited CAL may access CRM information and can make some edits and updates to it.

Full Use Additive CAL: When used in conjunction with a limited CAL, a full use additive CAL allows a user or device write access to a CRM server, thus allowing the user or device full read-write access to a server. The full use additive CAL may be used only in conjunction with a limited CAL.

Limited Use Additive CAL: The limited use additive CAL allows a user or device full read access and limited write access to a CRM server. This CAL may only be used to supplement an employee self service CAL.

CAL: The CAL provides a user or device with full read-write access to a CRM server. The CAL is functionally equivalent to a combined employee self service CAL, limited use additive CAL, and full use additive CAL.

As with many other Microsoft server technologies, the CALs listed above are each available on a per-user or per-device basis. A user CAL authorizes one user to access the CRM server from any computer or other device (for example, when an employee accesses the server from a computer at work and another at home). A device CAL authorizes one computer or other device to access the CRM server, regardless of the number of users (for example, on a shared workstation).


External Connector Licenses

An external connector (EC) license provides any number of external users with limited API access and limited read-write access to a single installation of Dynamics CRM Server 2011. External users may not use the Dynamics CRM applications directly.

Generally, an external user is defined as anyone who is not an employee of the organization. For example, external users can include clients, suppliers, and alumni of the organization. External users do not include independent contractors, agents, service providers, or other persons providing services to or on behalf of the organization holding the license. As an alternative to an EC license, some organizations may choose to license each external user with a separate CAL or CALs.

An EC license may not be used as a means of reselling or repackaging Dynamics CRM as a hosted service.


Upgrades from Dynamics CRM 4.0

Organizations who received a donation of Dynamics CRM 4.0 may acquire upgrades to Dynamics CRM 2011 under Software Assurance as follows:

•    For each qualifying Dynamics CRM 4.0 Workgroup Server, the organization is entitled to Dynamics CRM Workgroup Server 2011.
•    For each qualifying Dynamics CRM 4.0 Enterprise Server or CRM 4.0 Professional Server, the organization is entitled to Dynamics CRM Server 2011.
•    For each qualifying CRM 4.0 CAL, full use additive CAL, or external connector license, the organization is entitled to an equivalent CRM 2011 CAL.
•    For each qualifying CRM 4.0 limited CAL, the organization is entitled to a CRM 2011 employee self service CAL and a CRM 2011 limited use additive CAL.
•    For each qualifying CRM 4.0 limited external connector license (either alone or as part of Dynamics CRM 4.0 limited external connector and Dynamics CRM 4.0 full use additive external connector set), the organization is entitled to a Dynamics CRM 2011 external connector license.