System Center 2012 R2 Licensing Guide

System Center 2012 R2 Licensing Product Overview

Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 offers solutions for managing datacenter resources, private clouds, and client devices.
Private Cloud/Datacenter Management
System Center 2012 R2 helps your organization achieve IT as a Service by enabling the following:
▶ Productive infrastructure: Deliver flexible, cost effective private-cloud infrastructure to your business units in a self-service model, while carrying forward your existing data center investments.
▶ Predictable applications: Deep application insight combined with a “service-centric” approach helps you deliver predictable application-service levels.
▶ Cloud computing on your terms: Deliver and consume private and public cloud computing on your terms with common management experiences across your hybrid environments.

Client Management
System Center 2012 R2 helps IT empower people to use the devices and applications they need to be productive, while maintaining corporate compliance and control.

System Center 2012 R2 Licensing Overview

With System Center 2012 R2 licensing:
▶ Licenses are required only for endpoints being managed. No additional licenses are needed for management servers or SQL Server technology.
▶ Licensing model is consistent across editions. Processor-based license, covering up to two processors for server management. User- or OSE-based license for client management.

System Center 2012 R2 Licensing Managed Servers

System Center 2012 R2 server management licensing maximizes your private cloud value while simplifying purchasing. All server management licenses (SMLs) include the same components and the ability to manage any workload. System Center 2012 R2 SMLs will be released in two editions differentiated by virtualization rights only:
▶ Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Datacenter: Maximizes cloud capacity with unlimited virtualization for high-density private clouds
▶ Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Standard: For lightly or non-virtualized private cloud workloads

Determining the Number of Licenses Needed

Server MLs are required for managed devices that run server Operating System Environments (OSEs). Licenses are processor-based, with each license covering up to two physical processors. The number of Server MLs required for each managed server is determined by the number of physical processor in the server for Datacenter Edition and either number of physical processors in the server or number of OSEs being managed for Standard Edition (whichever is greater). If you choose the Standard Server ML, you can add more licenses to a server to manage a greater number of virtual OSEs.

Multiple System Center 2012 R2 Standard licenses may be assigned to the same server to license the number of managed OSEs. Components included in the Server MLs are not available separately.
Flexibility to License Managed OSEs Running on Pubic Cloud Platforms
All System Center 2012 R2 Server Management Licenses with active Software Assurance qualify for License Mobility through Software Assurance benefits. With License Mobility through Software Assurance benefits, you can assign Server MLs to manage applications running on a public cloud infrastructure.
For more information, see License Mobility through Software Assurance.

Transitioning to the New Server Licensing Model

If you have Software Assurance coverage on your current System Center licenses at the time of System Center 2012 R2 General Availability, you will receive the following System Center 2012 R2 ML grants listed below:

Note: You may migrate from System Center 2012 R2 Standard to System Center 2012 R2 Datacenter by purchasing a Step-up License.

System Center 2012 R2 Licensing Managed Clients

Client Management Licenses (MLs) are required for managed devices that run non-server OSEs. There are three System Center 2012 R2 Client ML offerings:

Notes:
▶ Client MLs are available on a per OSE or per user basis.
▶ Components included in the Client MLs are not available separately.

Transitioning to the New Client Licensing Model

If you have Software Assurance coverage on your current System Center licenses at the time of System Center 2012 R2 General Availability, you will receive the System Center 2012 R2 Client ML grants listed in the following table:

Planning for System Center 2012 R2 licensing

If you are planning to deploy System Center 2012 R2, either through upgrades or new licenses, please remember:
▶ Renewing Software Assurance is the best way to protect investments and provide access to new versions as well as Deployment Planning Services and technical assistance.
▶ Select your edition of System Center 2012 R2 based on virtualization rights:
▶ Datacenter Edition for highly virtualized private clouds
▶ Standard Edition for lightly or non-virtualized private clouds
▶ Core CAL and Enterprise CAL Suites will continue to be the most cost effective way to purchase client management products.
▶ Find out how flexible payments can help you get the IT you need and stay on budget. Visit www.microsoft.com/financing for program details or to learn more. Or contact your Microsoft Solution Partner directly, or call (800) 936-3500 in the United States and Canada.

Software Assurance Benefits

Microsoft Volume Licensing customers with active Software Assurance get more productivity value through their agreement by taking advantage of the new version software rights and by capitalizing on the deployment and productivity benefits included with Software Assurance.
Here is a list of just a few of the benefits that you can receive with Software Assurance for System Center:
▶ New Version Rights: Upgrade every license covered under Software Assurance to the newest version when available.
▶ Deployment Planning Services: Get in-depth planning assistance from qualified partners or Microsoft Services.
▶ Step-up Licenses: Customers with Active Software Assurance can step up one license of a lower edition to one license of a higher edition (for example, from System Center 2012 R2 Standard ML to System Center 2012 R2 Datacenter ML) for the difference in price of the two licenses and Software Assurance.
▶ 24×7 Problem Resolution Support: Reduce time downtime and support costs with around-the-clock phone and web incident support.
▶ Enterprise Source Licensing Program: Access Microsoft Windows client and server source code for internal development and support purposes when you have Software Assurance for 1,500 or more licensed desktop PCs in the systems pool.

Your specific Software Assurance benefit eligibility can vary by Volume Licensing program (such as an Enterprise Agreement or Open Value Agreement), and the number of qualifying licenses you have enrolled in Software Assurance. For more information, see the Software Assurance overview page.

Enrollment of Original Equipment Manufacturer Licenses into Software Assurance

Software Assurance is available for the latest version* of the software: Windows Server 2012 R2. You must acquire Software Assurance within 90 days of your purchase (see the Microsoft Volume Licensing Product Terms for details). If you acquire Software Assurance for an OEM license, your use of the software becomes subject to the Product Terms for that product and the terms and conditions or your organization’s Volume Licensing agreement.
*The latest version is determined by the most recent version available on the Volume Licensing Service Center.

Availability Through Volume Licensing Programs

Volume Activation

A number of technologies are available to simplify the task of configuring the distribution and management of an organization’s volume software licenses. These technologies include:
▶ The Volume Activation Services server role: Volume Activation Services is a server role in Windows Server 2012 (or later editions) that enables you to automate and simplify the issuance and management of Microsoft software volume licenses for a variety of scenarios and environments. With Volume Activation Services, you can install and configure the Key Management Service (KMS) and enable Active Directory-based Activation.
▶ Key Management Service (KMS): KMS is a role service that allows organizations to activate systems within their network from a server where a KMS host has been installed. With KMS, IT pros can complete activations on their local network, eliminating the need for individual computers to connect to Microsoft for product activation. KMS does not require a dedicated system, and it can be cohosted on a system that provides other services. By default, volume editions of Windows 8 (or later editions) and Windows Server 2012 (or later editions) connect to a system that hosts the KMS service to request activation. No action is required from the user.
▶ Active Directory-based Activation: Active Directory-based Activation is a role service that allows you to use Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) to store activation objects, which can further simplify the task of maintaining volume activation services for a network. With Active Directory-based Activation, no additional host server is needed, and activation requests are processed during computer startup.
Any computers running Windows 8 (or later editions) and Windows Server 2012 (or later editions) with a Generic Volume License Key (GVLK) that are connected to the domain will activate automatically and transparently. They will stay activated as long as they remain members of the domain and maintain periodic contact with a domain controller. Activation takes place after the licensing service starts. When this service starts, the computer running Windows 8 (or later editions) and Windows Server 2012 (or later editions) RD contacts AD DS automatically, receives the activation object, and activates without user intervention.

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