Designed for businesses that demand the highest levels of reliability, scalability, and large-scale virtualization, Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter enables mission-critical solutions for databases, ERP, high volume real-time transaction processing, and server consolidation. Its unlimited virtualization rights allow for significantly extending the savings customers can realize through server consolidation on the Windows Server platform on small and large servers.
Only x64/64-bit versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter are available through Volume Licensing agreements from Microsoft resellers and account managers, as well as through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Licensing Model
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter is licensed by the processor plus Windows Server Client Access Licenses (CALs). Servers with Windows Server Standard or Enterprise licenses covered by Software Assurance can be “stepped up” to a Windows Server Datacenter Edition processor license to take advantage of its unlimited virtualization rights. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter can be purchased through Volume Licensing directly from Microsoft or resellers, or from OEMs preinstalled on servers.
The 64-bit version of Datacenter Edition can be licensed for 128-way systems, with each partition capable of supporting a maximum of 64 processors.
Note that partitioning of a Datacenter system is supported logically at a licensing level and physical level. In other words, you are not required to obtain more Datacenter Edition server licenses than the total number of processors on that server.
Unlimited Virtualization Rights
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter licenses include unlimited virtualization rights, meaning customers have the use rights to run an unlimited number of virtualized instances of Windows Server on processors licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter without purchasing additional licenses. The use rights also allow the choice of running Windows Server 2008 R2 (or previous version) Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter in the virtual instances.
The unlimited virtualization rights significantly simplify the licensing of Windows Server for large-scale virtualization and make it more affordable for enterprises to consolidate on the Windows Server Platform.
Maintenance
In addition to more software licensing options, Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter has Software Assurance as an option for upgrades and maintenance.
Software Assurance
Microsoft Software Assurance, a maintenance offer that can be purchased for a specific period of time, helps your organization get the most from Microsoft software through a broad range of benefits, including product support and software upgrades. Datacenter Edition licenses covered by Software Assurance will receive the upgrade to Windows Server 2008 Datacenter and future versions at no additional cost when the versions are released while the licenses have active Software Assurance coverage.
Pricing
The estimated retail price for Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Edition is $2999 per processor. Pricing information for the Windows Server 2008 High Availability Program is available through your qualified OEM.
