System Center 2012 R2 Licensing
Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 offers solutions for managing datacenter resources, private clouds, and client devices. It delivers unified management across on-premises, service provider, and Microsoft Azure environments, thereby enabling the Microsoft cloud operating system. Learn more:
- Buyer’s Guide for an interactive experience on licensing-related information about use rights, upgrades, and migration paths.
- Licensing editions to find out more about the System Center 2012 R2 licensing model.
- How to buy for an overview of pricing and licensing options.
- FAQs for the most frequently asked questions about System Center 2012 R2 licensing.
Licensing editions
Compare server and client management license offerings, and learn how you can plan for deployment.
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.
Licensing overview
System Center 2012 R2 licensing summary:
- License required only for endpoints being managed. No additional licenses are needed for management servers or SQL Server technology.
- Consistent licensing model across editions. Processor-based license, covering up to two processors, for server management. User-based or operating system environment (OSE)–based license for client management.
Server management license edition comparison
The following table compares the two server management license (ML) editions
Datacenter | Standard | |
---|---|---|
Number of physical processors per license | 2 | 2 |
Number of managed OSEs per license | Unlimited | 2 |
Includes all System Center server management components | √ | √ |
Right to run management server software and supporting SQL Server Runtime (SQL Server Standard Edition) | √ | √ |
Manage any type of supported workload | √ | √ |
Open No Level (NL) License and Software Assurance (L&SA) 2-year price | $3,607 | $1,323 |
Components included in the server MLs are not available separately.
Licensing managed clients
Client MLs are required for managed devices that run non-server OSEs. The following table compares the three System Center 2012 R2 client ML offerings:
Configuration Manager Client ML | Endpoint Protection Subscription | Client Management Suite Client ML | |
---|---|---|---|
Components included |
Configuration Manager Virtual Machine Manager
|
Endpoint Protection |
Service Manager Operations Manager Data Protection Manager Orchestrator
|
Included in Core CAL Suite |
√
|
√ |
|
Included in Enterprise CAL Suite |
√
|
√ |
√
|
Open NL L&SA 2-year price | $62 | $22 |
$121
|
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.
Current License |
New License |
---|---|
System Center 2012 Client Management Suite Client ML | System Center 2012 R2 Client Management Suite Client ML |
System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Client ML | System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Client ML |
System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection subscription | System Center 2012 R2 Endpoint Protection subscription |
Note: There are no step-up paths for client MLs.
Planning for System Center 2012 R2
If you are planning to deploy System Center 2012 R2, either through upgrades or new licenses, remember the following:
- Renewing Software Assurance is the best way to protect investments and provide access to new versions, 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 Client Access License (CAL) and Enterprise CAL Suites will continue to be the most cost-effective way to purchase client management products.
For more information, download the System Center 2012 R2 licensing guide (PDF, 411 KB).
Related resources
Get details on how to evaluate, purchase, and deploy System Center 2012 R2.
(PDF, 411 KB)
Download detailed information about licensing System Center 2012 R2.