Windows Server 2012 Licensing Changes - here we go again.....

[mattx]

Windows Server 2012 Licensing Changes | Software Ruminations

[Arthur]

Shouldn't this be posted in the new Windows Server 2012 forum?

Also, fewer Windows editions = good.

[glennda]

Nice to see the death of Windows SBS!!!! By the looks of it they are pushing them to 365/google Apps/Alternative such as Zimbra << I'm hoping!

EDIT:

Each license covers 2 CPUs

So does that mean with a Standard License you get to use it on a dual socket CPU? or is it done on the cores i.e if you have a dual 6 core xeon (12 cores) you need 6 licenses?

[Michael]

As per usual, clear as mud. Microsoft will never learn...

I wish they'd do away with CALs and just integrate the CAL license into Windows Pro or Enterprise itself. After all, these are the only editions you can connect to a domain.

As for cores, in a number of years we'll easily have 32 core or 64 core CPUs, so Microsoft just need to license it per physical CPU rather than core, otherwise it'll get complicated.

[SYNACK]

Nice to see the death of Windows SBS!!!! By the looks of it they are pushing them to 365/google Apps/Alternative such as Zimbra << I'm hoping!

EDIT:

So does that mean with a Standard License you get to use it on a dual socket CPU? or is it done on the cores i.e if you have a dual 6 core xeon (12 cores) you need 6 licenses?

It's been sockets since XP, I don't see them changing that. Yay for the death of SBS, hateful thing it was too.

[Arthur]

The FAQ has more detailed info...

Windows Server 2012 Licensing & Pricing FAQ (PDF)

[john]

Hey Hey Hey nothing wrong with SBS it fills a very specific need, for example my local Age UK branch, I've just upgraded them from SBS 2003 to the latest SBS and its great, one box doing everything well and as a charity for peanuts cost as well. You just have to know how to poke / attack it to get the best from it and know when to stop poking and if your poking too hard.

[Patrickv]

I totally agree. This time they pooched the GUI interface that which I don't like based on the online screen shots. eg start menu and desktop. I tell you that my dad still hasn't got use to the Windows 7 GUI as he been using XP for a long time. Microsoft keep changing stuff. Their is a saying "If it ain't broken don't fix it" <- That is true in my professional opinion.

[glennda]

Hey Hey Hey nothing wrong with SBS it fills a very specific need, for example my local Age UK branch, I've just upgraded them from SBS 2003 to the latest SBS and its great, one box doing everything well and as a charity for peanuts cost as well. You just have to know how to poke / attack it to get the best from it and know when to stop poking and if your poking too hard.

I read the full PDF - they are not really doing away with SBS just removing exchange from it and including a Office 365 connector and calling it 2012 essentials(i think to many drinks to remember the real name so i made one up) - trying to push SMB's to the cloud which half on my clients wouldnt want to do with the current state of the internet in the UK.

[RobBaxter]

Oh thank god for the demise of SBS. I remember installing a "Flavor" (cant remember which) of that about 5-6 years ago. It's fine as long as you dont want to make it attualy do anything .

This is why i praise my school's agreement. "Licence Headache = removed". That is as long as i can count

[glennda]

Oh thank god for the demise of SBS. I remember installing a "Flavor" (cant remember which) of that about 5-6 years ago. It's fine as long as you dont want to make it attualy do anything .

This is why i praise my school's agreement. "Licence Headache = removed". That is as long as i can count

SBS has some features which would actually be pretty good in the full version (such as its remote access RDP stuff). But thats about it. Sharepoint should just be shot and Exchange being removed is pushing people to the Cloud. Which A lot of my customers with SBS would not want to do. Therefore will look to alternatives as Exchange is expensive in the private world.

[glennda]

So SBS will be discontinued?

Yes and No. An essentials version will be available which is has Sharepoint etc installed but will have a Office 365 connector instead of Microsoft Exchange.

[ColonelHawx]

SBS has been helpful to some of my work mates here... Though I wonder what exactly MS is deciding...