Windows Server Customers Face Licensing Decisions

Customers may be able to leverage Windows Server 2012 packaging, pricing, and licensing changes to more effectively manage their Windows Server license portfolio for their future server needs and reduce license costs. Depending upon the circumstances, it may be advantageous to accelerate or delay some license purchases, take advantage of Step-up Licenses before they disappear, and carefully manage the number of licenses covered by Software Assurance (SA) subscriptions when renewing. While Select and Open customers must act prior to the general availability (GA) of Windows Server 2012 in Sept. 2012, customers with Enterprise Agreements (EAs) generally have more time.

New Version Creates Licensing Opportunities

The new version of Windows Server (WS), WS 2012, features fewer editions, a new paired-processor licensing model, and some improved virtualization rights.

Differences between WS 2008 R2 Datacenter and WS 2012 Datacenter are minimal: virtualization rights remain unlimited (within the constraints of the server’s available processors and memory), and because WS 2008 R2 Datacenter was per processor, with a two-processor minimum and WS 2012 Datacenter licenses are per paired-processors, the acquisition costs are effectively a wash. Likewise, WS 2012 Client Access License (CALs) rules and pricing remain unchanged.