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In order to answer several questions that I get about SharePoint 2010, I thought I would consolidate some information about SharePoint licensing. SharePoint is licensed through a series of different editions, all which can be purchased via all volume licensing agreements. SharePoint 2010 requires 64-bit infrastructure.

SharePoint for Internal Use

SharePoint Foundation 2010

SharePoint Foundation is the equivalent to 2007’s Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. This free download provides the core of the collaborative and document storage capabilities of the SharePoint products and technologies.

Licensing requirement: Windows Server, SQL Server OR SQL Express

Office Professional Plus 2010

In order to access the web-based functionality of Office Web Apps, your organization must license Office Professional Plus 2010 or higher. For the most part, all other Office integration components are available within Office Standard 2010. Office Professional Plus also includes InfoPath 2010, for the customization of Forms Server content, Access 2010, which is required tocreate Access Services-based content, and SharePoint Workspace 2010.

Licensing requirement: Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010

SharePoint Designer 2010

SharePoint Designer 2010 is required for management and administration of page layouts, complex workflows and master pages. It is a free download, from Microsoft.

Licensing requirement: None

SharePoint Server 2010 Standard Edition

SharePoint Server 2010 is licensed in a server plus client access license model.

Licensing requirement: SharePoint Server 2010, Standard CAL, Windows Server, SQL Server

SharePoint Server 2010 Enterprise Edition

SharePoint Server 2010 is licensed in a server plus client access license model. For the enterprise feature set, it is an additive CAL, meaning both the Standard and Enterprise client access licenses are required.

Licensing requirement: SharePoint Server 2010, Standard CAL + Enterprise CAL, Windows Server, SQL Server

FAST Search Server for SharePoint

Licensing requirement: Licensing requirement: SharePoint Server 2010, FAST Search Server for SharePoint 2010, Standard CAL + Enterprise CAL, Windows Server, SQL Server

Future Licensing: Office 365

In early 2011, Microsoft will be launching the next generation of its cloud-based computing suite, Office 365. This upgrade from the original Business Productivity Online Suite, and will be available in Standard and Deskless Worker editions.

It has been announced that the Standard Edition will be compiled of Exchange, SharePoint Foundation, Lync, Office Web Apps and Forms Server, while the Kiosk Worker will include Exchange, SharePoint Foundation, Office Web Apps and Forms Server.

Licensing requirement: Office 365 Standard CAL OR Office 365 Kiosk Worker CAL

SharePoint for External Use

SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites, Standard

For the development of an extranet, portal or public-facing website, SharePoint 2010 can be licensed on a per-server basis. This license does not require additional Client Access Licenses.

The Internet Sites license includes licensing for content editors and owners for publishing to the external audience. In the case of a blended model, with the same server hosting content for internal use only (i.e. an intranet), the SharePoint Server 2010 and internal Client Access Licenses are required for all named users. Both server licenses can be assigned to the same instance.

The Standard FIS license covers the same features as the SharePoint Server 2010 Standard CAL features.

Licensing requirement: SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites (Standard), Windows Server, SQL Server

SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites, Enterprise

The Enterprise FIS license covers the same features as the SharePoint Server 2010 Enterprise CAL features. In addition, the Enterprise FIS license provides rights to FAST Search Server for use in Internet or Extranet scenarios; however, the FAST Search Server requires a separate instance. For example, if two licenses of SharePoint Server FIS Enterprise are purchased, one may be assigned a SharePoint instance, and the second may be assigned as a FAST Search Server instance.

Licensing requirement: SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites (Enterprise), Windows Server, SQL Server

Related Server Suites

Project Server 2010

The Microsoft enterprise project management offering has comes leaps and bounds, and is now 100% SharePoint oriented, requiring an investment in the Enterprise CAL, as well as the Project 2010 infrastructure.

Licensing requirement: Project Server 2010, SharePoint Server 2010, Standard CAL + Enterprise CAL, Windows Server, SQL Server, Project Professional 2010 (Recommended)