Windows Server Pricing

Windows Server 2016 will move to a Core + Client Access License (CAL) model for licensing, as opposed to its predecessor’s Processor + CALs model. Listed are all the license types associated with Windows Server, the various suites that include them, and pricing under Windows Server 2016 and 2012 R2. All prices quoted are in U.S. dollars and represent the highest price a U.S.-based customer would likely pay. (Dec. 2015 Open No Level prices are used for 2012 R2, and estimates are used for version 2016.)

Server-side licenses for Windows Server 2016 will be sold as two-core packs, with a minimum purchase of 16 cores for single or dual processor servers, and 32 cores for quad-processor servers. If physical servers have the same or fewer cores than these minimums, server-side licensing fees are the same as under Windows Server 2012 R2; otherwise, server-side licensing costs will increase.

Client-side licenses, rules, pricing, and packaging are expected to remain the same as under Windows Server 2012 R2.