Should I buy Windows Server 2012 R2 or wait for Windows Server 2016?

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Rob Waggoner

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Partners,

You are starting to hear news about Windows Server 2016, and I agree that Windows Server 2016 is looking great, but that doesn’t mean Windows Server 2012 R2 isn’t up to the task.  As I like to remind Partners, Software Assurance is always a great value, but right now, the value is even better because purchasing SA on your Windows Server 2012 R2 now will give you all of the benefits of Windows Server 2012 R2 now and Windows Server 2016 when it ships.

Here are a few other items to keep in mind.

  1. Windows Server 2012 R2 with Software Assurance provides the Hybrid Use Benefit so you can move your Windows VMs to Azure at a reduced runtime cost.  Details are here. 
  2. We announced that we will be making a licensing change with Windows Server 2016 here, and you can download the Windows Server Datacenter and Standard Edition licensing datasheet here.  I want to point out this statement in the datasheet:Windows Server Datacenter and Standard Edition 2proc licenses with SA will be exchanged for a minimum of 8 two-core pack licenses (16 core licenses) or the actual number of physical cores in use
  3. Here are the other benefits of Software Assurance.
  4. We have not announced a RTM for Windows Server 2016, so don’t wait and keep your customers on older technology.

Until next time,

Rob

 

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