Windows Server 2008 Licensing Overview

**aley_mcsd.NET** · 17-06-2008, 16:53

Windows Server 2008 Licensing Overview
Microsoft introduced new licensing options with the release of Windows Server 2003 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.

What's New in Windows Server 2008 Licensing
Licensing of Windows Server 2008 remains generally consistent with Windows Server 2003 R2, with a few changes:

Licensing in Virtualized Environments
Microsoft continues to make it easier to take advantage of the benefits of server virtualization technology. Organizations that virtualize computing environments can increase operational efficiency through server consolidation, application re-hosting, disaster recovery, and software test and development.

Expanded Use Rights for Windows Server 2008 Standard to Support Virtualization Scenarios
To continue enabling software virtualization, Microsoft is expanding use rights for Windows Server 2008 Standard. With Windows Server 2008 Standard, you may now run one instance of the server software in the physical operating system environment and one instance of the server software in a virtual operating system environment.

New Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
Windows Server 2008 offers a separate product for Itanium based platform customers. Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems is designed to be the leading alternative platform for RISC-based UNIX servers. It is intended for scale-up database workloads and custom and line-of-business applications. This workload focus is consistent with the majority of current deployments of Windows Server on Itanium. This product maintains the same licensing model as Windows Server 2008 Datacenter; per processor plus CALs. Pricing is also the same as Windows Server 2008 Datacenter.

Windows Web Server 2008
Windows Web Server 2008 is specifically designed to be used as a single-purpose Web server. Licensing terms for Windows Web Server 2008 clarify that the server software may only be used for Internet-accessible front-end web serving of Web pages, Web sites, Web applications, Web services, and POP3 mail serving. Additionally, Windows Web Server 2008 licensing is enhanced to allow any type of database software on the server software with no limit on the number of users.

Client Access Licenses and External Connectors for Windows Server 2008 Editions
With the launch of Windows Server 2008, we require that your Client Access Licenses (CALs) and External Connectors for Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services, and Windows Server 2003 Rights Management Services be upgraded to access Windows Server 2008 Editions. We have created new CALs specific to Windows Server 2008. In other words, Windows Server 2003 CALs and External Connectors may not access Windows Server 2008 server software.

Server Operating System License
U.S. Price*
Description

Windows Server 2008 Standard
$999
Available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Includes 5 CALs (User or Device, chosen after purchase)

Windows Server 2008 Standard
$1,199
Available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Includes 10 CALs (User or Device, chosen after purchase)

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
$3,999
Available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Includes 25 CALs (User or Device, chosen after purchase)

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition
$2,999
Available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, no CALs required. Licensed on per-CPU basis.

Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
$2,999
Available only in Itanium version

Windows Web Server 2008
$469
Web Server-only product**, no CALs required. Available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Client Access Licenses
U.S. Price*
Description

Windows Server 2008, Client Access License 5-pack
$199
Five additional Windows Server 2008 CALs (User or Device, chosen at time of purchase)

Windows Server 2008, Client Access License 20-pack
$799
Twenty additional Windows Server 2008 CALs (User or Device, chosen at time of purchase)

Windows Server 2008, TS Client Access License 5-pack
$749
Five additional Windows Server 2008 Terminal Server (TS) CALs (User or Device, chosen at time of purchase)

Windows Server 2008, TS Client Access License 20-pack
$2,979
Twenty additional Windows Server 2008 TS CALs (User or Device, chosen at time of purchase)