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Microsoft recognizes the need to provide small and midsize business customers with an easy way to migrate their technology products as their business needs change—whether that entails a migration into, within, or out of Windows Essential Server Solutions (WESS) family of products to their standalone components. With that in mind, we have launched a program, named Solutions Pathway, which provides solutions to alleviate the additional stresses of running a successful business and enables companies to easily migrate to a new Microsoft solution from the one they are currently using.
Solutions Pathway offers a tiered discount that will be applicable to various upgrade and migration scenarios. The program replaces previously offered products, such as Version Upgrade (VUP), Product Upgrade (PUP) and Transition Pack (TP)—for all customers wanting to purchase any WESS family of products: Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server (SBS) 2008.
Solutions Pathway does not offer migration options to standalone components for SBS 2003 and SBS 2003 R2 customers, as this program caters only to customers purchasing WESS family of products.
For SBS 2003 and SBS 2003 R2 customers who want to purchase standalone components, Transition Pack is only available on the FPP pricelist through the Distributor channel for Americas Operations Center and EMEA Operations Center. Starting in April, the Asia Pacific Operations Center will have all SKUs available on the pricelist. Click here for pricing details and how to buy.
The option to migrate to standalone components is available to SBS 2008 and EBS 2008 customers on Solutions Pathway. See details below.
Get more familiar with the Solutions Pathway purchasing process by taking the test drive.
Note: Customers and Microsoft partners have different entry Web sites to Solutions Pathway. Microsoft Partners should go to the Microsoft Partner Program Portal to transact the Solutions Pathway changes here. Customers can start here for Windows Small Business Server 2008 or here for Windows Essential Business Server 2008.
The only eligibility requirement to participate in the Solutions Pathway program is that you have a perpetual license to one of the qualifying products, as detailed in the table below, and want to upgrade or migrate to any Windows Essential Server Solutions family of products. Licenses acquired under any subscription-based Microsoft Volume Licensing program (such as Open Value Subscription) do not qualify you to make Solutions Pathway program purchases. This means that you can participate in Solutions Pathway if you are a Volume License (including Open Business and Open Value), original equipment manufacturer (OEM), or FPP (also known as retail box) customer.
The following table lists the supported scenarios for Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008. Note: You must purchase software and CALs to participate in Solutions Pathway. A server software license purchase must be made in every fulfillment order made on Solutions Pathway, unless listed otherwise. You should be familiar with the quantity of CALs you require, as Solutions Pathway only entitles you to upgrade the CALs you currently own before the upgrade.
From
To
Savings
Microsoft SBS 2000
Windows SBS 2003 Standard Edition
Windows SBS 2003 R2 Standard Edition
Windows SBS 2008 Standard
Windows EBS 2008 Standard
20 Percent
Windows SBS 2003 Premium Edition
Windows SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition
Windows SBS 2008 Premium
Windows EBS 2008 Premium
30 Percent
Stand-alone components
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 credit: Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition1
Windows Server 2008 CAL credit1
Credit for Windows EBS 2008 CAL Suite (Standard only)
1Limited duration programs ending at 11:59 P.M., Pacific Time, on December 31, 2009. See Terms and Conditions for details.
Solutions Pathway offers a tiered discount that is applicable to various upgrade and migration scenarios. The program replaces previously offered products, such as VUP, PUP and TP—for all customers wanting to purchase any WESS 2008 family of products: SBS 2008 and EBS 2008.
The following table lists the standalone components:
Product
Components
Windows Server 2008 Standard—1 licenseExchange Server 2007 Standard Edition—1 license
Windows Server 2008 Standard—2 licensesExchange Server 2007 Standard Edition—1 license Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard for Small Business—1 license
Windows Server 2008 Standard—3 licensesExchange Server 2007 Standard Edition—2 licensesMicrosoft System Center Essentials 2007—1 licenseMicrosoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway, Medium Business Edition—1 license2
Windows Server 2008 Standard—4 licensesExchange Server 2007 Standard Edition—2 licensesSystem Center Essentials 2007—1 licenseForefront Threat Management Gateway Medium Business Edition—1 license2 SQL Server 2008 Standard—1 license
2Forefront Threat Management Gateway, Medium Business Edition is a volume licensing product and is not in a full packaged or retail box. It is available for download only at Microsoft Volume License Services. You must have a Volume License agreement and an online account to download this software.
The new software that is acquired through the Solutions Pathway program (“new software”) takes the place of the software that the customer originally licensed and used to gain eligibility to the Solutions Pathway program (“original software”). You cannot use the new software and the original software at the same time.
Volume Licensing Customers:
Software Assurance Installments: Your perpetual right to use software under licenses acquired through Solutions Pathway is subject to your payment in full of all remaining installments of the price for the corresponding Volume Licensing Licenses and Software Assurance coverage.
Forfeiture of Upgrade Rights and other Software Assurance Benefits: When you choose to license and use software acquired through Solutions Pathway in place of your Volume Licensing software, you forfeit your right under Software Assurance to use any later version of that Volume Licensing software. You may also forfeit other benefits directly related to that Volume Licensing software. You should contact your reseller or Microsoft account manager if you have questions about the impact of Solutions Pathway purchases upon the status of certain benefits.
Acquiring Software Assurance Coverage on Licenses Acquired through Solutions Pathway: You may be eligible to acquire coverage on your new software licenses within 90 days of your Solutions Pathway purchase. See the Microsoft Volume Licensing Product List for details. Solution Pathway purchases are not Step Up offerings. Installments paid in connection with Software Assurance for your original Volume Licensing software will not apply toward your purchase of coverage for licenses acquired through Solutions Pathway.
OEM Customers: Your installation of this new software acquired through Solutions Pathway may void your support agreement for the original software provided as part of the server hardware by your OEM. Contact your server manufacturer for its support policy when installing this new software on server hardware. If you need software product support, Microsoft will provide support for the new software and not the server manufacturer. There may be fees associated with such support. Please see www.microsoft.com from more information on its support policies for Windows Essential Server Solution products before purchasing. NOTE: Your original software that was sold as part of the OEM hardware is not transferable. It should be removed from the server. The software, including any recovery media, is not licensed to be used or installed on another server.
Microsoft “Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition Software and CAL Credit” and “Windows Server 2008 Standard CAL Credit” Programs Terms and Conditions
These programs are subject to the following terms and conditions and all participants acknowledge and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
Program Descriptions: In conjunction with Solutions Pathway, Microsoft is launching two programs for a limited duration of time, which expire at 11:59 PM, Pacific Time, on December 31, 2009. The intent of these two programs is to preserve the investments that customers have made in Exchange Server 2007 Standard software and CALs, as well as Windows Server 2008 Standard CALs, because these are also included in Windows EBS software and CALs.
Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition Software and CAL CreditUnder this program, any customer who has a perpetual license for Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition software and has acquired corresponding Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition CALs will be given a percent discount when licensing Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard or Premium software and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite or Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users or Devices through Solutions Pathway.
Windows Server 2008 Standard CAL Credit:Under this program, any customer who has a perpetual license to Windows Server 2008 Standard software and has acquired corresponding Windows Server 2008 Standard CALs will be given a percent discount when licensing Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite through Solutions Pathway.
Program Eligibility: Any customer that has a perpetual license to Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition software and CALs, Windows Server 2008 Standard software and CALs, or both before 11:59 PM Pacific Time on November 11, 2008, is eligible to participate.
Program Discounts: These programs offer a percent discount off the list prices in effect for eligible participants on both software and CALs, depending on the program.
Program Duration: The program commenced at 12:00 AM (midnight), Pacific Time, on November 12, 2008, and ends on 11:59 PM, Pacific Time, on December 31, 2009. Price discounts for eligible program participants are available between 12:00 AM (midnight), Pacific Time, on November 12, 2008, and 11:59 PM, Pacific Time, on December 31, 2009.
Purchase Limitations: The following purchase limitations apply for each program:
If the customer has a perpetual license to Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition software and CALs and Windows Server 2008 Standard software and CALs before 11:59 PM, Pacific Time, on November 11, 2008, then the customer is eligible to participate in only one program identified in the Program Descriptions section.
Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition software and CAL Credit: Under this program, any customer who has a perpetual license to Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition software and has acquired corresponding Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition CALs will be given a discount when licensing Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard or Premium software and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite or Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users or Devices through Solutions Pathway.
Windows Server 2008 Standard CAL Credit: Under this program, any customer who has a perpetual license to Windows Server 2008 Standard software and has acquired corresponding Windows Server 2008 Standard CALs will be given a discount when licensing Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite through Solutions Pathway.
Product Details: Eligible participants have the opportunity to purchase the following software products through the Solutions Pathway program:
Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard
Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite
Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Premium
Windows Essential Business Server 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users or Devices
Promoter: The promoter of this program is Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052. Microsoft reserves the right to terminate or extend this program at any time. Microsoft may pursue legal action against anyone out of compliance with the terms and conditions of the program.
