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.