System Center 2012 Licensing Datasheet.docx

Product Overview

Microsoft System Center 2012 offers solutions for managing datacenter resources, private clouds, and client devices.

Private Cloud/Datacenter Management

System Center 2012 helps your organization achieve IT as a Service by enabling:

·         Productive infrastructure: Deliver flexible, cost-effective private-cloud infrastructure to your business units in a self-service model, while carrying forward your existing data center investments.

·         Predictable applications: Deep application insight combined with a “service-centric” approach helps you deliver predictable application-service levels.

·         Cloud computing on your terms: Deliver and consume private and public cloud computing on your terms with common management experiences across your hybrid environments.

Client Management

System Center 2012 helps IT empower people to use the devices and applications they need to be productive, while maintaining corporate compliance and control.

System Center 2012 Licensing Overview

System Center 2012 introduces a new edition line-up to address your Private Cloud and client device management needs. System Center 2012 licensing is simplified through:

·         License required only for endpoints being managed. No additional licenses are needed for management servers or SQL Server technology.

·         Consistent licensing model across editions.  Processor-based license, covering up to two processors for server management. User- or OSE- based license for client management.

Licensing Managed Servers

System Center 2012 server management licensing maximizes your private cloud value while simplifying purchasing. All server management licenses (SMLs) include the same components and the ability to manage any workload. System Center 2012 SMLs will be released in two editions differentiated by virtualization rights only:

·         Datacenter: Maximizes cloud capacity with unlimited virtualization for high density private clouds

·         Standard: For lightly or non-virtualized private cloud workloads. 

Server ML Edition Comparison:

Components included in the Server MLs are not available separately. 

Determining the Number of Licenses Needed

Server MLs are required for managed devices that run server Operating System Environments (OSEs). Licenses are processor-based, with each license covering up to two physical processors. The number of Server MLs required for each managed server is determined by the number of physical processor in the server for Datacenter Edition and either number of physical processors in the server or number of OSEs being managed for Standard Edition (whichever is greater). If you choose the Standard Server ML, you can add more licenses to a server to manage a greater number of virtual OSEs.   

Examples:

Multiple System Center 2012 Standard licenses may be assigned to the same server to license the number of managed OSEs. Components included in the Server MLs are not available separately.

Flexibility to License Managed OSEs Running on Public Cloud Platforms

All System Center 2012 Server Management Licenses with active Software Assurance qualify for License Mobility through Software Assurance benefits. With the License Mobility through Software Assurance benefit, you can assign Server MLs to manage applications running on a public cloud infrastructure.

For more information, see the Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance Customer Guide.

Transitioning to the New Server Licensing Model

If you have Software Assurance coverage on your current System Center licenses at the time of System Center 2012 General Availability, you will receive the following System Center 2012 Server ML grants at the ratios listed below: