Beginning with NetWare 6.5 SP4, both the user licenses and the standard server license files were replaced by Master License Agreement (MLA) license files. In NetWare 6.5 SP8, an MLA license is included in a \LICENSE folder at the root of the installation media.
IMPORTANT:This does not mean that purchasing the product is no longer required.
MLA licenses contain a special server license and no user licenses. MLA licenses
Permit NLS to grant logins without user licenses.
Provide for auditing of user connections for paper license compliance.
Novell licenses NetWare 6.5 SP8 using the same User Access Licensing model that was initiated with the release of NetWare 6. You must still purchase paper licenses to cover the number of users connected to your network, but manging license certificates in eDirectory is greatly simplified. For example, installing a single MLA license at the top of your eDirectory tree (Organization layer) lets you
License all the NetWare servers in your tree.
Audit user connections to help ensure compliance with your NetWare license agreement.
Although user licenses are no longer required, an unlicensed installation still allows only two user connections. You must install the MLA license in eDirectory to have more than two users connected to your network.
Having an MLA license installed as part of an NetWare purchase does not constitute having a Master License Agreement contract with Novell that allows for unlimited user connections. Unless you actually have an MLA contract with Novell, you are using Red Box™ licensing, and the number of user connections you can legally allow is specified in one or more paper licenses issued with your NetWare purchases.
The NetWare installation media includes a non-expiring MLA license at the root of the NetWare installation media. Demo or evaluation licenses are no longer issued. However, you are authorized to evaluate NetWare for up to 90 days while deciding whether to purchase NetWare. If you decide not to purchase NetWare, Novell expects you to uninstall it. If you purchase NetWare, no further installation of license certificates is required.
The number of user connections that are legally allowed on your network is specified in the paper license agreements that Novell issues with each NetWare purchase.
As mentioned above, the licensing model for NetWare is basically unchanged from NetWare 6. You are under the same obligations to ensure your organization complies with your license agreements with Novell.
After installing MLA licenses, you should use the NetWare Usage tool to ensure you are in compliance with your paper license agreement. See Section 4.0, Metering Network and Product Usage for more information.
Because this guide deals with multiple versions of NetWare and must also cover information pertinent to other products that use NLS, the changes mentioned in this section are not necessarily reflected in all discussions throughout the guide. For example, user licenses are still discussed, even though they are not issued with NetWare 6.5 SP8.
As you use the information in the guide, keep in mind that the licensing model established with NetWare 6 remains in force in NetWare 6.5 SP8. The biggest changes are that license certificate management in eDirectory is much simpler now, and that user licenses are no longer issued by Novell, nor are they required by the current versions of NetWare.