Hi guys, I am having a Windows Server 2003 server and 10 workstations. SQL Server 2005 will be installed in the server. The server contains a database which all the 10 workstations will access the server and use the database. My question is what configurations are needed to be done in the server? If I have 10 workstations, do i just need 1 CAL or 10 CAL? I believe is not just simply connect each workstation and server to the LAN port.

are you ever going to add workstations? Presently it would appear you are going to go peer to peer and not do Active Directory. Do you know the difference? You will need to purchase 10 sql cals for your workstations to access the database.

Yes, in future up to 16 to 20 workstations. I have been looking up on p2p and also AD. However, I could not find the best explanation. Therefore need some explanation from you guys. Will both configurations yield the same result: a client-server network? Is AD better & safer than P2P?

Peer to peer is an open field AD is centralized management. Though you can mix the two, you usually go away from the free for all peer to peer networking to a more centralized security centrix configuration. Google peer to peer vs client server for more info

Active Directory all the way! If you installing a server and SQL, you will find it MUCH easier to manage and assign permissions if you have AD in place.