Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value
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Interestingly, Microsoft is getting a bit aggressive with trying to lure away VMware customers. If you're a current VMware customer you can get a Windows Server 2016 Datacenter license if you switch and purchase Software Assurance for that license: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2016/08/24/announcing-the-new-vmware-migration-offer-for-windows-server-2016/. I think they're doing something similar for Oracle customers too (switching to MSSQL).
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@Kelly said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License:
Interestingly, Microsoft is getting a bit aggressive with trying to lure away VMware customers. If you're a current VMware customer you can get a Windows Server 2016 Datacenter license if you switch and purchase Software Assurance for that license: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2016/08/24/announcing-the-new-vmware-migration-offer-for-windows-server-2016/. I think they're doing something similar for Oracle customers too (switching to MSSQL).
Your subject line is a bit click-baity.
"From September 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, customers who switch workloads from VMware to Hyper-V can get free Windows Server Datacenter licenses when buying Windows Server Datacenter + Software Assurance"
They eventually give you the license for free (which is awesome) but you have to still purchase the Datacenter license and SA. Really what they want you to purchase is SA so they can standardize their revenue stream.
Give away the cart, but rent the horse.
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@DustinB3403 said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License:
@Kelly said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License:
Interestingly, Microsoft is getting a bit aggressive with trying to lure away VMware customers. If you're a current VMware customer you can get a Windows Server 2016 Datacenter license if you switch and purchase Software Assurance for that license: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2016/08/24/announcing-the-new-vmware-migration-offer-for-windows-server-2016/. I think they're doing something similar for Oracle customers too (switching to MSSQL).
Your subject line is a bit click-baity.
Better?
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@Kelly said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@DustinB3403 said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License:
@Kelly said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License:
Interestingly, Microsoft is getting a bit aggressive with trying to lure away VMware customers. If you're a current VMware customer you can get a Windows Server 2016 Datacenter license if you switch and purchase Software Assurance for that license: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2016/08/24/announcing-the-new-vmware-migration-offer-for-windows-server-2016/. I think they're doing something similar for Oracle customers too (switching to MSSQL).
Your subject line is a bit click-baity.
Better?
Much, thank you!
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Now I'm curious if you must use Hyper-V (and move from VMware) to qualify for this.... I would hope just purchasing Datacenter with SA would be enough to qualify for the promotion.
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@DustinB3403 said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
Now I'm curious if you must use Hyper-V (and move from VMware) to qualify for this.... I would hope just purchasing Datacenter with SA would be enough to qualify for the promotion.
It would be funny to go through the hoops, and at the end mention casually that you're looking forward to running Windows Server on your new XS install.
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I don't know how they would enforce your use of Hyper-V. It's completely free and has no license check in process.
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The comments I read on this were that this is kinda of an empty offer. Most people who want Datacenter already own it. I suppose that some people might take advantage of this offer, but not a huge number.
Unlike the offer for free SQL when moving away from Oracle, in that case you had something completely non MS to be replaced with MS stuff. In the current offer - it's likely you already had Datacenter if you needed it.
I do wonder what the cost of SA is though? For smaller shops that could never afford the $8000 minimum for the DC licenses alone, might be able to get into DC with SA for say $3000 for 2 years. But even that cost is a complete unknown, because MS is changing to core based pricing now.
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@Dashrender I was thinking the same thing. I look at this offer and think that Microsoft wants to give away the OS, wonderful. But in exchange for the OS I need to pay for maintenance.
Fair trade maybe if I have a bunch of server systems that I need to license.
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I learned Hyper-V inside and out when I was studying for my MCSA 2012. I have given up on Hyper-V. Other Hypervisors are so much better and have less issues. I tried using Hyper-V for about a year, it just isn't as good as other products out there.
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@DustinB3403 said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@Dashrender I was thinking the same thing. I look at this offer and think that Microsoft wants to give away the OS, wonderful. But in exchange for the OS I need to pay for maintenance.
Fair trade maybe if I have a bunch of server systems that I need to license.
Actually, if you are using Windows servers, you should already be buying into SA. It's cheaper than buying a new server license every time a new OS is released, plus the extra benefits are awesome.
As Scott preaches, if you are using a system, you should be fully buying into that system and staying current with it.
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@IRJ said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
I learned Hyper-V inside and out when I was studying for my MCSA 2012. I have given up on Hyper-V. Other Hypervisors are so much better and have less issues. I tried using Hyper-V for about a year, it just isn't as good as other products out there.
In what ways? and at what scale?
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@Dashrender said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@DustinB3403 said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@Dashrender I was thinking the same thing. I look at this offer and think that Microsoft wants to give away the OS, wonderful. But in exchange for the OS I need to pay for maintenance.
Fair trade maybe if I have a bunch of server systems that I need to license.
Actually, if you are using Windows servers, you should already be buying into SA. It's cheaper than buying a new server license every time a new OS is released, plus the extra benefits are awesome.
As Scott preaches, if you are using a system, you should be fully buying into that system and staying current with it.
Oh I do agree, but I've not seen a single SMB actually go that route.
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@DustinB3403 said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@Dashrender said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@DustinB3403 said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@Dashrender I was thinking the same thing. I look at this offer and think that Microsoft wants to give away the OS, wonderful. But in exchange for the OS I need to pay for maintenance.
Fair trade maybe if I have a bunch of server systems that I need to license.
Actually, if you are using Windows servers, you should already be buying into SA. It's cheaper than buying a new server license every time a new OS is released, plus the extra benefits are awesome.
As Scott preaches, if you are using a system, you should be fully buying into that system and staying current with it.
Oh I do agree, but I've not seen a single SMB actually go that route.
You can now say that you have - My office does. I maintain SA for my servers.
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@Dashrender said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
@IRJ said in Free Windows Server DataCenter License with Purchase of SA of equal or greater value:
I learned Hyper-V inside and out when I was studying for my MCSA 2012. I have given up on Hyper-V. Other Hypervisors are so much better and have less issues. I tried using Hyper-V for about a year, it just isn't as good as other products out there.
In what ways? and at what scale?
For starters the compatibility with non-Windows Machines suck.
