A couple of headings on Microsoft's Configuration Manager Licensing page [http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/en/us/configuration-manager/cm-pricing-licensing.aspx * ] now say "How to Buy Configuration Manager 2007 R3" and "Before You Buy Configuration Manager 2007 R3". Does this mean that anyone who buys SCCM 2007 from now on will be licensed for R3? Or do you still need EA or SA to get R2 and R3, regardless of when purchased? Also, is there any news about the release date for R3 download? [ * I can't get the forum's "Add link" button to work]

To expand on what kent is said... "R" versions of SCCM are never free. If you purchase SCCM R3 then you will own it. If you purchase SCCM R2 without SA then you will have to totally repurchase SCCM in order to get R3. There's no upgrade license available. Anyone who purchases SCCM without SA should seriously reconsider their licensing strategy IMO. John Marcum | http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/jmarcum |

Hi, There is no confirmed release data for SCCM R3. Have a look at http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/en/us/configuration-manager/cm-r3.aspx and this short video - http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/en/us/configuration-manager.aspx on R3 OS deployment.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

"R" versions of SCCM are never free. If you purchase SCCM R3 then you will own it. If you purchase SCCM R2 without SA then you will have to totally repurchase SCCM in order to get R3. So if someone buys SCCM today without SA, they would have to buy: SCCM site server license, R2 license, and Enterprise CAL pack / client MLs? Where the site says, for example, "Configuration Manager Server 2007 R2 $579 U.S.", I would have thought the price included R2. (I'm not talking about an existing non-R2 customer wanting to upgrade, but rather someone who's never had any System Center product before.) >> There's no upgrade license available. Anyone who purchases SCCM without SA should seriously reconsider their licensing strategy IMO. Agree. I hope we were advised to buy SA when SCCM was sold to us (I don't have login for our Microsoft Licensing, so I can't check by myself.)