Windows Server 2008 R2 Pricing and Licensing

The general availability of Windows Server 2008 R2 has brought to the table a variety of complex offerings in terms of pricing and licensing which customers might find difficult to navigate. In this regard, Microsoft has taken the necessary steps in order to ensure that companies looking to leverage the latest iteration of Windows Server for their infrastructures will be able to benefit from an insight into purchase costs as well as the license options available. “Windows Server 2008 R2 Licensing Overview” is a guide put together by the company and offered via the Microsoft Download Center.

“Windows Server is primarily licensed using a Server + CAL model or a Processor + CAL model. Windows Server Standard and Enterprise editions are licensed using the Server + CAL model, while Windows Server Datacenter and Windows Server for Itanium-Based Systems editions are licensed using the processor + CAL model. Under both models, the CAL that accesses the instance of Windows Server must be equivalent or higher in version than the server being accessed,” Microsoft explained.

The document reveals pricing and licensing options for the following Windows Server 2008 R2 SKUs: Standard, Foundation, Enterprise, Datacenter, with details available for Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems and Windows HPC Server 2008. Microsoft is even offering extensive information on various Licensing Scenarios as well as on Upgrade/Downgrade Options, and License Tracking Best Practices.

At the same time, customers will be able to access a table with the estimated retail pricing for fully packaged product (FPP) for Volume Licensing customers. However, only some prices are available, since in the case of Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation the actual price tag varies in accordance to the OEM channel.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard costs $1,029 (with 5 CALs), and $1,209 (with 10 CALs), while Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise is $3,919 (with 25 CALs) and Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter $2,999 (with NO CALs). Customers that want to run Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems will have to pay $2,999. Test driving Windows Server 2008 R2, however, is free, and the operating system can be grabbed via the link below.

Windows Server 2008 R2 is available for download here.