How Windows Server is like the Dallas Cowboys

Without going into too much detail, a question came up about how our users access our tools.  Most of our centralized tool infrastructure is based on a web/app or app server on Windows Server 2008 R2 machines and our databases are on either Windows Server/SQL Server or AIX/Oracle configurations.  A question came up about licensing and we usually license by processor for any of the 3rd party tools because we have a variable number of users hitting our applications and it is usually in the thousands.

During the conversation, the topic of Windows Server Client Access License (CAL) came up.  I told them I didn't think my users needed them (even though we have them) because my users don't access the server, just the app through either JBoss or IIS.  Oh, but I was wrong.  According to the Microsoft license specialist (I deleted the references to our company and bolding is mine):

• If the Windows Server is a server for internal use, every user/device that accesses the server directly or indirectly needs a Windows CAL.
• If the Windows Servers are used by external users, you need External Connectors.  External users are defined as users who are not employees or onsite contractors.
• If the Windows Server is hosted by someone else, the server needs to be properly licensed by the Hoster 

So how is Windows Server like the Dallas Cowboys or New York Yankees/ Mets /Giants /Jets or any other sports franchise trying to invent ways to get more money out of their stadium?  Because according to the stipulations above, Windows Server is the equivalent of a Personal Seat License (PSL) to house your application.

A computer is useless unless it has an operating system (well not totally useless, you could use it as a door stop), so you pay to put an OS like Windows Server on your web/app or database box and then install your app or database on top of that.  But according to the stipulations above, the end-users has to pay for a CAL (or ticket) to access the application even if they don't access the web/app or database box itself.  So even though we bought a server license (PSL), we still need a CAL (ticket) to use our application because the user is indirectly accessing the OS.

So why would I buy a Personal Seat (or Server OS) that I couldn't use unless I bought a ticket (or CAL)?  Because people like Jerry Jones think of these things (I hope you don't win another game Cowboys!)