Confused about Citrix Licensing?

Posted in Software Asset Management, Software Licensing

Implementing virtual environments such as Citrix in an organization can dramatically complicate the licensing picture. As with most large vendors, Citrix offers many products and licensing models.  Marrying Citrix with the products from other publishers can cause your head to spin. For example, look at Microsoft licensing in a Citrix (virtual) environment.  Did you realize the following points?

  • All users and devices that connect to a Citrix server must have a valid Remote Desktop Services (RDS) CAL.
  • Each machine with access to an application on a Citrix server must have a local installation of the same software. For example, a workstation using Office Pro 2010 on a Citrix server must have a local copy of Office Pro 2010 or higher installed as well.
  • Adding to the previous point, there are no concurrent licensing models for most (if not all) Microsoft products. So if 1000 workstations have access to the Citrix server but only 50 simultaneously use the install of Office Pro 2010 being hosted, you still need 1000 licenses for Office Pro 2010.
  • Only Volume License copies can be used in a Citrix Environment. OEM (Original Equipment, Manufacturer),  FPP (Fully Packaged Product) and Office 365 are not allowed.

See the newly posted Citrix Licensing Quick Guide over at The ITAM Review and Licensing for Virtual Environments  at Microsoft for more Citrix and Microsoft virtual environment licensing information.

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