Microsoft Server Products
Windows Server 2008 R2 Licensing OverviewMicrosoft will introduce new licensing options with the release of Windows Server 2008 R2 to address customer business needs and to complement the technical capabilities of Microsoft server products. This is part of a broad effort to make software licensing more consistent, predictable, and flexible for our customers.
Highlights for Windows Server 2008 R2 Licensing
Licensing of Windows Server 2008 R2 remains generally consistent with Windows Server 2008, with a few highlights:
License Terms – 2008 R2 Product Line Updates
Products
Change
Explanation
Windows Server 2008 CAL for R2
No WS 2008 R2 CALs were created and are not required to access a server running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, WS 2008 CALs can be used to access either Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 servers.
Want to further enable use of virtual instance with running instance in the physical OS.
Windows Server 2008 without Hyper–V editions
Removal of all without Hyper-V editions.
Simplification of product line, price list, and product ordering for customers and partners.
CAL Requirement when using Windows Server 2008 to host virtual machines (VMs)
When Windows Server 2008 is only running the Hyper-V role, the requirement to upgrade to WS 2008 CALs is not initiated. The CAL upgrade requirement will be initiated if any additional server roles are running on the server.
This change puts Windows Server 2008 on a level playing field with the Hyper-V server and other Hypervisors that are able to manage virtual machines without requiring a customer to upgrade to WS 2008 CALs.
Remote Desktop Services (RDS)
The latest version of the Terminal Services (TS) CAL is being renamed to Remote Desktop Services CAL. With the new and updated Remote Desktop Services and features of Windows Server 2008 R2, new Windows Server 2008 RDS CALs and Windows Server 2008 RDS External Connector License are created. Both WS 2008 TS CALs and the new WS 2008 RDS CALs can be used to access Windows Server 2008 R2.
Terminal Services is adding features to provide a centralized desktop delivery architecture that enables desktop environments to run and be managed on virtual machines within one centralized server. To reflect these broader capabilities, the Terminal Services role will be renamed to “Remote Desktop Services” (RDS).
Foundation
New original equipment manufacturer (OEM) only product targeting small businesses with less than 15 users and that purchase low priced servers with 1 processor (1P).
The low cost 1P hardware market is growing rapidly for our OEM partners were not able to sell our traditional WS products to this segment of customers.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) License Suites
Two new two suites combine the necessary Microsoft products for an optimum VDI user experience in a value package.
In order for customers to optimize their VDI experience and environment, we have created two new license suites in volume licensing—the Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Standard Suite and the Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Premium Suite.
Virtual Use Rights
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard – A customer licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard may run one instance of the server software in the physical operating system environment (POSE) and one instance of the server software in a virtual operating system environment (VOSE). If the customer is running the instance in the VOSE then the instance running in the POSE can only be used to manage the instance of the OS running in the VOSE.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise – A customer licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise may run one instance of the server software in the physical operating system environment (POSE) and up to four instances of the server software in the virtual operating system environment (VOSE). If the customer is running 4 instances in the VOSE then the instance running in the POSE can only be used to manage the 4 instances of the OS running in the VOSE.
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Datacenter – A customer licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter may run one instance of the server software in the physical operating system environment (POSE) and an unlimited number of instances of the server software in the virtual operating system environment (VOSE).
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems – A customer licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems may run one instance of the server software in the physical operating system environment (POSE) and an unlimited number of instances of the server software in the virtual operating system environment (VOSE).
Windows Web Server 2008 R2 – Windows Web Server 2008 R2 is licensed to a server in the physical operating system environment (POSE). You can also run as a guest in the virtual operating system environment (VOSE).
Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation – Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is licensed to a server in the physical operating system environment (POSE).
Windows Server Licensing Overview
Microsoft offers flexible, cost-effective options for licensing the Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 family of products. Prior to running an instance of Windows Server software (loading it into memory and executing one or more of its instructions) customers must assign a Windows Server license to a physical server. Assignment/reassignment rules for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) licenses are different from Volume Licensing and retail license rights. With a license purchased with a server from an OEM, the Windows Server license is already assigned to that specific server, and lives and dies with that server. The OEM end customer is not allowed to reassign that OEM license to another server.
Windows Server is primarily licensed using a Server + CAL model or a Processor + CAL model. Windows Server Standard and Enterprise editions are licensed using the Server + CAL model, while Windows Server Datacenter and Windows Server for Itanium-Based Systems editions are licensed using the Processor + CAL model. Under both models, the CAL that accesses the instance of Windows Server must be equivalent or higher in version than the server being accessed. An exception to this rule was introduced with Windows Server 2008 and continued with Windows Server 2008 R2. Under that exception, customers must still license the appropriate CAL version to access the version of the server software running in each virtual operating system environment, but they are not required to upgrade their CALs based on the version of Windows Server that is running in the physical operating system environment. In this scenario, the Hyper-V server role must be the only role running in the physical operating system environment.
A Windows Server 2008 Client Access License (CAL) must be purchased for every user or device that accesses or uses the Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 server software, except under the following circumstances:
If the instances of the server software are accessed only through the Internet, without access being authenticated or otherwise individually identified by the server software or through any other means
If the server software being accessed is Windows Web Server 2008, Windows Web Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 Foundation, or Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation
If external users are accessing the instances of the server software and a Windows Server 2008 External Connector license for each server being accessed has been acquired
If up to two devices or users are accessing the instances of the server software for the purpose of administering those instances
If Windows Server 2008 R2 serves solely as a virtualization host (CALs for the appropriate edition of Windows Server running in the virtual machine(s) are still required)
Below is an overview of the Windows Server 2008 R2 core product offerings, indicating product names, available sales channels, licensing models, and number of running instances allowed per license in physical and virtual operating system environments (POSEs and VOSEs).
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