System Center Essentials Licensing Overview

Essentials 2007 requires a Server License for the management server and a Management License ("ML") for each managed operating system environment ("OSE"). A Server ML is required for management of each server OSE, and a Client ML is required for management of each non-server OSE. Essentials 2007 is technically limited to management of 30 Windows-based server OSEs and 500 Windows-based personal computer ("PC") OSEs. The Essentials 2007 product (and Essentials 2007 with SQL Server 2005 Technology product) sold through the Retail and Microsoft® Volume Licensing ("VL") channels comes with the MLs to manage 10 server OSEs and 50 non-server OSEs. Additional Server MLs can be purchased as a single license or in a 5-pack, and additional Client MLs in a 5-pack or 20-pack.

Read the SCE licensing whitepaper here.