How System Center licensing works (Do you need a server licence)

Do you need a server license for Microsoft System Center?

System Center is a pretty unique product in regards to licensing, and quite a few changes have been introduced to it since it was first released.

Instead of Client Access Licences (CALs), it requires Management licences for each managed endpoint.

But do you need to license the System Center server itself?

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[xf-esns]

I agree that the Systems Center application itself does not require a license as Microsoft make money from its ML license fees for each node that is managed by Systems Center; however, I believe that a managed endpoint still needs an OS license, correct? Or does a CML/SML replace the need for an actual client/server OS license for the managed endpoint?

[InformationIsKing]

We have a system centre product license. Now, we want to instal SCOM with the same license, and we have to manage 5000 servers through the SCOM agent. For this scenario, do we need an extra licence for monitoring SCOM agents on 5000 servers? Please reply. Thank you for sharing such wonderful information.

[davideisen]

Hi, i was informed/under the impression that if i purchased a MS Windows Server DC license this would give me rights to use SCCM but it appears as this is not the case?

[Estqu]

HI. So if the management servers like MP, DP or replica servers does not require the SCCM license. How it is possible to download and activate SCCM Server Current Brunch for example? If I have only CMLs for managing Windows 10/11?

[darshvirtualacademy]

Great! I still have doubts, Suppose we have MECM/SCCM Server License configured, do we still require any license on the client side/end users' machine?

Scenario
I have SCCM-SRV with product key configured / Licensed and 200 clients' machines, do I require 200 licenses for these client machines or just a server license is okay to go and nothing requires for the client? Kindly guide

[METROMETER]

Then companies buying CIS suite in large quantity when they need to license only managed server