Hopefully an easy question for someone out there... If I have purchased RDS CALs for Server 2012 (Open Academic licensing), do the downgrade rights allow me to use these in a Server 2008R2 RDS environment?

• Edited by JamesLong_23 Thursday, October 18, 2012 5:32 PM Quick Edit,...

Hi,

Yes, you may downgrade the RDS CALs to Server 2008 R2.

-TP

• Marked as answer by JamesLong_23 Friday, October 19, 2012 8:08 AM

Thanks very much for your advice - that's great!

How do you downgrade the rds cal? I can see plenty of indication that it is possible to do it and it's allowed to do it but how do you actually downgraded

Hi Vector330ix,

Please contact the Clearinghouse to downgrade RDS CALs:

Locate the Microsoft Clearinghouse Telephone Number for Your Country or Region

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc754874(v=ws.10).aspx

Thanks.

-TP

• Proposed as answer by James-Johnson Friday, March 15, 2013 2:25 PM

Hi Vector330ix,

Please contact the Clearinghouse to downgrade RDS CALs:

Locate the Microsoft Clearinghouse Telephone Number for Your Country or Region

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc754874(v=ws.10).aspx

Thanks.

-TP

This is correct I have just used the link to get instructions on how to activate by telephone and the technician activated my license for me.

James..

 

Does this still work in 2014?

Yes, but if you have 2012 Open License CALs and looking to activate them on a 2008 Server, do not mention the word DOWNGRADE. I did this a couple times and they told me they couldn't help me. They said they could only downgrade Retail CALs. When I went to activate on the server, I chose Server 2008 User RDS CALs and Telephone registration. I had the license agreement and authorization number handy. You give them the licensing server ID that displays on your server screen and they will give you a key pack for 2008 CALs. It worked as it should for me when I stopped saying the word Downgrade!