Dumb Server 2003 license question

Luq

I know there are at least a few other sysadmins who trawl this forum. Can you upgrade an installation of Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2003 R2 or is it a different license? 2003 and 2003 R2 are two different levels as far the functional level of your domain/forest is concerned right?

wunderbar

yea they are two different OS's. think of it like a version 1, to a 1.5 version.

Luq

Thanks!

exoplasm

I find it funny, though, that you install a non-R2 copy of 2003 then run the R2 upgrade on that. Even though you can't upgrade otherwise.

Morskittar

R2 is really best thought of as a "Windows Server 2005". It is a different version.

Keep in mind that the CALs aren't specific, though, so you would only need to acquire an R2 server license (or downgraded 2008 license).

Luq

It's cliche, but goddamn MS licensing is annoying. I've got one freaking DC out of 13 that's running regular 2003. I'd like to get R2 on it so I can upgrade the domain functional level so I can use DFS (among other things). I know that I'm just going to have to get a new license for 2008 R2 when it comes out though, as we're going to switch to 2008 R2 for Direct Access (also among other things).

Plus I will have to replace my two server 2008 datacenter licenses that we purchased in August with 2008 R2. That's going to be hell getting approved. It really feels like you get penalized for adopting the OS early.

exoplasm

Luq wrote: »

It's cliche, but goddamn MS ... really feels like you get penalized for adopting the OS early.

I think this is part of some evil plan or something. :whistle:

Morskittar

Wait... why do you have to replace Datacenter 2008?

sinn

Luq wrote: »

It's cliche, but goddamn MS licensing is annoying. I've got one freaking DC out of 13 that's running regular 2003. I'd like to get R2 on it so I can upgrade the domain functional level so I can use DFS (among other things). I know that I'm just going to have to get a new license for 2008 R2 when it comes out though, as we're going to switch to 2008 R2 for Direct Access (also among other things).

Plus I will have to replace my two server 2008 datacenter licenses that we purchased in August with 2008 R2. That's going to be hell getting approved. It really feels like you get penalized for adopting the OS early.

You need to look into Microsoft Software Assurance. Pay on a per server basis (that can be spread out over several years if you like) and you are guaranteed access to the lastest version.

I'm preparing in the next few months to migrate my entire 2003 server farm to 2008, and as I'm not adding any new servers (just replacing, so using the same amount of or less licenses) I won't be paying a single red cent.