What's a user?

[Former Member]

From the POV of ASA licensing, what actually counts as a user?

- is it a remote machine with possibly several connections?

- is it a connection username?

Or something else?!

[jose_at_sap · Accepted solution]

Hi Alex,

A "user" is defined in the SQL Anywhere's License Agreement that you must agree to prior to installing the software.  Here's what this agreement says:

"A specific, identifiable, unique input/output device capable of directly or indirectly accessing and using a Program such as (without limitation) a terminal, personal computer, single user workstation, personal digital assistant ("PDA"), wireless device or real time device."

For example, if you have 10 people accessing a SQL Anywhere database, then your database server must be licensed for at least 10 users.  Keep in mind that even if you have a remote machine that maintains a single connection to the database (e.g. Citrix or similar technology), but you have 10 people accessing it, you still need a license for at least 10 database users.

There's also the option to license the database server on a per CPU basis, thus making the number of users irrelevant.  This situation typically applies for Internet-type applications, where you don't know the exact number of database users.

You can also view the SAP Software Usage Rights document for more details. It's available from this web page (click on the appropriate region): http://global.sap.com/corporate-en/our-company/agreements/index.epx.