Aidan Finn, IT Pro

You can now buy Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 via volume license channels.  Here’s a quick reminder of the changes in licensing:

• The Windows 8 editions: Remember that the RT edition is sold only on ARM tablets and is not in VL.  The Enterprise edition is a benefit for when you add Software Assurance (SA) to Windows 8 Pro.
• Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera: The authors of Windows 8 Secrets did a much more complete job of comparing the editions of Windows 8 than the original Microsoft table did.
• Windows Server 2012 Licensing In Detail: Windows Server Standard and Datacenter are GA.  Essentials is still in RC.  I’ve no idea about Foundation, but it’ll only be available via OEM channels and is not a VL SKU.
• Windows Server 2012 Virtualisation Licensing Scenarios: If you are doing virtualisation of Windows Serer on any kind of hypervisor (including VMware) then you need to read this. These rules are not constrained to Hyper-V.

Don’t forget that the virtual launch for Windows Server 2012 is tomorrow afternoon, at 16:00 GMT.  We should expect TechNet and MSDN to be populated sometime around/after that.

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Related posts:

1. Reminder – Windows Server 2012 Launch Is In 4 Hours
2. Reminder – Add Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 To Your Patching System
3. Windows Server 2012 UK Events Reminder – Come See What’s In The Release Candidate
4. Windows Server 2012 Licensing In Detail
5. Windows Server 2012 Virtualisation Licensing Scenarios