Windows Server 2012

SPLA Licensing FAQ

Whats new for Windows Server 2012 licensing in SPLA?
As part of the alignment with the Microsoft Private Cloud licensing model, Windows Server
2012 and Microsoft System Center 2012 will have the same licensing structure.

Server licenses will be based on a processor model.

Each license will be assigned to a single physical server and covers one physical
processor. Each processor in the server must be licensed.

Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition and Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Edition
will be differentiated by virtualization rights only (one for Standard; unlimited for
Datacenter).

Windows Server 2012 Datacenter allows you to run an unlimited number of Windows Server
instances on the licensed server.

Windows Server 2012 Standard allows you to run one Windows Server instance on the licensed
server.

Whats the difference between Windows Server Standard

Edition and Datacenter Edition?
Both Standard and Datacenter editions provide the same set of features. What differentiates
the editions is the number of Virtual Machines (VMs). Standard Edition license will entitle you
to run one VM on a physical server (subject to the VM terms outlined in the Services Provider
Use Rights document), while a Datacenter Edition license will entitle you to run an unlimited
number of VMs on a physical server.

How do I determine which Windows Server 2012 Edition is

right for me?
Since each edition (Standard and Datacenter) offers the same features and is only
differentiated based on virtualization rights, choosing between the two will be based on your
virtualization strategy. If your strategy depends on a highly virtualized environment,
Datacenter Edition would be an appropriate choice, as it provides you with optimum
flexibility with its unlimited capacity for virtualization. If your strategy depends primarily on
a physical environment, Standard Edition provides you with the same full features as
Datacenter Edition, but with fewer virtualization rights.

What features are now available in Windows Server 2012

Standard that were previously only available in Windows
Server 2008 R2 Enterprise and Datacenter Editions?
There are a variety of new features in the Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition product;
here are just a few examples of what was previously available only in the premium editions.

Windows Server 2012 SPLA FAQ JULY 2012 WPC

Windows Server Failover Clustering

BranchCache Hosted Cache Server

Active Directory Federated Services

Additional Active Directory Certificate Services capabilities

Distributed File Services (support for more than 1 DFS root)

DFS-R Cross-File Replication

For more information about Windows Server capabilities, see www.microsoft.com/enus/server-cloud/windows-server/v8-capabilities.aspx

How do I calculate the number of licenses I need for

a server?
The number of licenses you will need depends on the number of physical processors there
are on the server, and the number of instances that you will be running (this only applies to
Standard Edition, since Datacenter Edition allows for unlimited VMs).

Determining the number of physical processor licenses

Each license covers one physical processor, so you must count the number of physical
processors on the server.
Here are some examples:

You have a 2-processor server. You will need two licenses to cover a 2-processor
server.

You have a 4-processor server. You will need four licenses to cover a 4-processor
server.

Determining the number of virtual instances running

If you want to run additional VMs and you do not require the highly virtualized environment
that Datacenter provides (which has unlimited VMs), then you can purchase additional
Standard Edition licenses for each processor and assign them all to a single physical server
to increase your VM entitlement on that server.
For example, for Standard Edition, if you assign two Standard Edition licenses to a 2processor server, you will be able to run 1 VM on that server. If you add 2 additional
Standard Edition licenses to that server, the number of allowed VMs on that particular server
will increase by one.
Here are some examples:

You have a 2-processor server with 4 VMs. You will need eight licenses for 4 VMs on a
2-processor server.

You have a 2-processor server with 6 VMs. You will need twelve licenses for 6 VMs on
a 2-processor server.

Can I split my Windows Server 2012 license across multiple

servers?
No. Each license can only be assigned to a single physical server.

Windows Server 2012 SPLA FAQ JULY 2012 WPC

Can I assign a Windows Server 2012 license to a virtual

machine?
No. A license is assigned to the physical server. Each license will cover one physical
processor.

Can I mix Datacenter and Standard licenses on the same

server?
No. All of the processors on a given server must be licensed with the same version and
edition. You can run different editions or older versions of Windows Server software as
guests within VMs. But you cannot assign multiple licenses of different versions or editions
to the same physical server to license the processors on the server.

Is Enterprise Edition going away as part of Windows Server

2012, and why?
Yes. Enterprise edition will be retiring as part of the Windows Server 2012 release. There are
a few reasons for this change. First, we wanted all of our customers to have access to the
features that were previously only available in our premium editions. Next, we found that
virtual machine density is continuing to grow, limiting the value of a 4 VM package. And, we
are able to simplify our offering by consolidating the available editions into two (Standard
and Datacenter) and only differentiate based on a customers virtualization needs.

Is Web Server going away as part of Windows Server 2012,

and why?
Yes. Consistent feedback from customers and partners has been that they prefer to use an
edition of Windows Server that does not restrict usage to running web workloads.

Is HPC Server OS going away as part of Windows Server

2012, and why?
Yes. We are delivering enhancements for HPC in both cloud and on-premise environments
through a free downloadable pack. As a result, we are eliminating HPC Server OS with the
release of Windows Server 2012. Customers who want to run HPC workloads will have the
ability to do so with Windows Server (Standard or Datacenter editions) and the HPC Pack
2008 R2 Express. (Click here for a free download.)

Is the Subscriber Access License (SAL) SKU going away from

the Windows Server 2012 Standard and Datacenter, and
why?
Yes. Windows Server 2012 Standard and Datacenter will be offered on a processor basis to
simplify our product lineup in SPLA.

Are Windows Server OEM SKUs going away from

Windows Server 2012?
Yes. Windows Server OEM SKUs are removed to simplify our product lineup in SPLA.

Windows Server 2012 SPLA FAQ JULY 2012 WPC

If I have Enterprise Edition in SPLA when Windows Server

2012 is released, what will I be able to order?
The SPLA subscription program rule is: if a partner was licensing a particular product at the
time it was removed from the SPUR/Price List, they can continue licensing/ordering that
product/SKU until the earlier of: a) they migrate to the newer version, or b) their SPLA
agreement expires and is renewed.

If I have Web Server Edition in SPLA when Windows Server

2012 is released, what will I be able to order?
The SPLA subscription program rule is: if a partner was licensing a particular product at the
time it was removed from the SPUR/Price List, they can continue licensing/ordering that
product/SKU until the earlier of: a) they migrate to the newer version; or b) their SPLA
agreement expires and is renewed.

If I have HPC Server OS Edition in SPLA when Windows

Server 2012 is released, what will I be able to order?
The SPLA subscription program rule is: if a partner was licensing a particular product at the
time it was removed from the SPUR/Price List, they can continue licensing/ordering that
product/SKU until the earlier of: a) they migrate to the newer version; or b) their SPLA
agreement expires and is renewed.

If I have Itanium Edition in SPLA when Windows Server 2012

is released, what will I be able to order?
The SPLA subscription program rule is: if a partner was licensing a particular product at the
time it was removed from the SPUR/Price List, they can continue licensing/ordering that
product/SKU until the earlier of: a) they migrate to the newer version; or b) their SPLA
agreement expires and is renewed.

If I have Windows Server Extended Term Licenses (ETLs), can

I run Windows Server 2012 instead of Windows Server 2008
R2?
Yes. You can run Windows Server 2012 bits, for the licensed ETL product, instead of Windows
Server 2008 R2 for the remaining term of the ETL agreement.

Do I still need a separate SAL to access Remote Desktop

Services (RDS) and Active Directory Rights Management
Service (ADRMS)?
Yes. The licensing requirements for Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Active Directory
Rights Management Service (ADRMS) have not changed with Windows Server 2012. You are
still required to purchase an ADRMS or RDS SAL.

What support is available for an older version of Windows

Server?
See the Microsoft Support Lifecycle website for details.

Windows Server 2012 SPLA FAQ JULY 2012 WPC

Can I order licenses for Windows Server 2012 editions and

Windows Server 2008 R2 editions under the same SPLA
agreement?
Yes. If you licensed Windows Server 2008 R2 editions when they were published on the SPLA
price list, you may continue to license Windows Server 2008 R2 editions and license
Windows Server 2012 editions under the same SPLA agreement as you transition your
datacenter to Windows Server 2012 editions. You may not assign Windows Server 2008 R2
licenses and Windows Server 2012 licenses to the same server. You may only order Windows
Server 2012 editions on new or renewal SPLA agreements signed after the Windows Server
2012 release.

What is Windows Server 2012 Essentials?

Windows Server 2012 Essentials is the latest version of Windows Small Business Server. It is
a flexible, affordable, and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small
businesses to help reduce costs and increase productivity. It is an ideal first server, and can
be used as the primary server in a multi-server environment for small businesses. It helps
small businesses protect, centralize, organize and access their applications and information
from almost anywhere, using virtually any device.

How will Windows Server 2012 Essentials be licensed in

SPLA?
Windows Server 2012 Essentials will be licensed on a processor model. It will no longer be
offered as a SAL license model in SPLA.
Each license will be assigned to a single physical server and covers one physical processor.
All of the processors in the server must be licensed with no virtualization rights. (See
Services Provider Use Rights for details.)

What are some of the features that are now available in

Windows Server 2012 Essentials?
Windows Server 2012 Essentials incorporates best-of-breed 64-bit product technologies to
deliver a server environment well suited for the vast majority of small businesses. The
product technologies include:

Windows Server 2012 Operating System

Data Protection

Anywhere Access

Health Monitoring

Workload Flexibility

Extensibility

Add-ons for many small business solutions, including a connector to Microsoft Office
365

Customers can use Windows Server 2012 Essentials as a platform to run critical line-ofbusiness applications, as well as to provide an integrated management experience when
running cloud-based applications and services, such as email, collaboration, online backup,
and more.

Windows Server 2012 SPLA FAQ JULY 2012 WPC

What are the different editions available with Windows

Server 2012 Essentials?
There is only one edition, Windows Server 2012 Essentials, a flexible offering which provides
a platform for running on-premise or cloud-based workloads.

Will there be a next version of Windows Small Business

Server 2011 Premium Add-on?
No. Windows SBS 2011 Premium Add-on, which includes SQL Server as a component
product, will be the final such Windows Server offering.

Will there be a next version of Windows Small Business

Server 2011 Standard?
No. Windows SBS 2011 Standard, which includes Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Standard
and Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 as component products, will be the final such
Windows Server offering.

If I have Windows SBS 2011 Essentials in SPLA when

Windows Server 2012 is released, what will I be able to
order?
The SPLA subscription program rule is: if a partner was licensing a particular product at the
time it was removed from the SPUR/Price List, they can continue licensing/ordering that
product/SKU until the earlier of: a) they migrate to the newer version; or b) their SPLA
agreement expires and is renewed.

If I have Windows SBS 2011 Premium Add-on in SPLA when

Windows Server 2012 Essentials is released, what will I be
able to order?
The SPLA subscription program rule is: if a partner was licensing a particular product at the
time it was removed from the SPUR/Price List, they can continue licensing/ordering that
product/SKU until the earlier of: a) they migrate to the newer version; or b) their SPLA
agreement expires and is renewed.

If I have Windows SBS 2011 Standard Edition in SPLA when

Windows Server 2012 is released, what will I be able to
order?
The SPLA subscription program rule is: if a partner was licensing a particular product at the
time it was removed from the SPUR/Price List, they can continue licensing/ordering that
product/SKU until the earlier of: a) they migrate to the newer version; or b) their SPLA
agreement expires and is renewed.

Windows Server 2012 SPLA FAQ JULY 2012 WPC

When will these changes become effective?

Licensing changes will come into effect one month after the release of Windows Server 2012
Datacenter and Standard. Windows Server 2012 is expected to be released in the second
half of the calendar year 2012.

What Windows Server Edition should I purchase prior to the

release of Windows Server 2012?
Whichever Windows Server Edition that will best meet your virtualization needs based on the
new product available:

Datacenter is designed for highly virtualized Private Cloud environments.

Standard targets physical or low virtualized environments.

Essentials targets small businesses with limited virtualization rights

2012 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Windows Server 2012 SPLA FAQ JULY 2012 WPC