Hi,
We are purchasing Windows 2008 Standard R2 media. The intention is to use Downgrade Media Kit to install Windows 2003 Standard R2 until we decide to fully move to W2K8 Server.
There is no problem with this and we can simply purchase the Downgrade Kit (
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/downgrade-TC.aspx
), however I need to know
the estimated cost of the Downgrade Kit before management approve the purchase of W2K8 and the Media Kit.
Can anyone provide the estimated cost (Euro, Dollars, whatever is easier) when done via the Microsoft Fulfillment site?
Note: I would do this myself, but I need to already have W2K8 serials before proceeding to the pricing info on the fullfillment site.
Thanks,

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Hi,
We are purchasing Windows 2008 Standard R2 media. The intention is to use Downgrade Media Kit to install Windows 2003 Standard R2 until we decide to fully move to W2K8 Server.
There is no problem with this and we can simply purchase the Downgrade Kit (
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/downgrade-TC.aspx
), however I need to know
the estimated cost of the Downgrade Kit before management approve the purchase of W2K8 and the Media Kit.
Can anyone provide the estimated cost (Euro, Dollars, whatever is easier) when done via the Microsoft Fulfillment site?
Note: I would do this myself, but I need to already have W2K8 serials before proceeding to the pricing info on the fullfillment site.
Thanks,


Hi Mariov,
Have you investigated volume licensing?
If you purchase the "WINDOWS SERVER STANDARD" with Software Assurance it comes with the downgrade and support. You also qualify for any upgrades/releases within window of Software Assurance.
Product Licensing Information

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/product-licensing.aspx

Product Usage Rights

http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userights/ProductPage.aspx?pid=128

Customers may also invoke version downgrade rights and use earlier versions of Windows Server under these expanded use rights. The expanded use rights will be published in the April 2009 Volume Licensing Product Use Rights (PUR) available at

http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/userights/pur.aspx
.
For more information, please refer to Licensing Microsoft Server Products in Virtual Environments brief and/or Licensing Windows Server 2008 to run with Virtualization Technologies brief available at:


http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx
.
Depending on your Infrastructure, you can also check out the savings you can expect to receive from Core Cals.

http://www.microsoft.com/calsuites/en/us/products/default.aspx

If your organization doesn't want to spend that much on investing for the software internally... Microsoft offers Online Business products. I believe Office 365(To be renamed from MS BSOP) offers hosted Exchange, Sharepoint, and Link Server(to
be renamed from Office Communicator) for about $10 per user a month...
Goto
http://www.microsoft.com/business

I hope this helps with the information you're looking for. If not, any typical purchase of Server Standard version can be anywhere from $1000 to $1200 depending on taxes and the licensing, the partner, or licensing model you're purchasing from.
Best Regards,

Steve Kline
Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator
Microsoft Certified Product Specialist
Microsoft Certified Network Product Specialist
Red Hat Certified System Administrator
This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

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Any update?

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