[windows software] System Center 2016 (SCCM 2016) Licensing

[DJ-1701]

I was looking into SCCM 2016 for providing Anti-Virus to all the machines (including servers) as well as software management.

 

I am a little confused as to which version we should be considering, System Center 2016 Datacenter Edition or Standard Edition, as reading the descriptions one way, it sounds like Datacenter maybe the only one that would look after our virtual servers (and I certainly would prefer to protect the Servers from viruses).

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/cloud-platform/system-center-pricing

 

Does anyone know if my understanding of the licensing is correct or flawed? Many thanks.

[sparkeh]

Do you really need to licence the full System Center suite? Or would sccm on its own not suffice?

[DJ-1701]

Do you really need to licence the full System Center suite? Or would sccm on its own not suffice?

 

That may be part of my problem, I was of the understanding that System Center is needed to use SCCM. The only thing I can see with SCCM is client side license costs.

[sparkeh]

That may be part of my problem, I was of the understanding that System Center is needed to use SCCM. The only thing I can see with SCCM is client side license costs.

Ah ha. Yeah licence it separately. We have an OVS-ES agreement for it and its peanuts. I advise talking to your friendly neighborhood MS licencing partner.

[Blue_Cookeh]

Ah ha. Yeah licence it separately. We have an OVS-ES agreement for it and its peanuts. I advise talking to your friendly neighborhood MS licencing partner.

 

Agreed!

 

But yes, you need different licenses for client/servers. On OVS-ES the Client CAL Pack includes CCM licensing, and on the server side there's a similar sort of suite you can buy that includes it too.

 

I believe going that route will mean you're licensed for DPM etc too (but I could be wrong, we don't use it).

 

EDIT: Also you don't need SQL licensing, SCCM includes a license for SQL Server Standard so long as it's only used for SCCM.

Edited November 16, 2016 by Blue_Cookeh

[CAWJames]

In this world of weird licensing, you buy either a standard license for lightly virtualised and datacenter for highly virtualised per server you want to cover, and you get all parts of the system center suite. We buy 1 datacenter per Virtual host, and a standard for each normal server we want to cover(mostly for DPM purposes). We use SCCM and SCDPM, and it's still a good price point on OVS-ES. Especially remote control of computers, dameware licenses begone!

 

Also for AV if you don't want management and you have a OVS-ES cal pack, you are covered for non-SC managed endpoint protection, plenty of guides on the net to do it. We used to spend a small cars worth of money every few years to cover our computers with Symantec, not any more!! That saving paid for System Center with money to spare.