System Center 2012 Licensing

System Center Editions
System Center 2012 Data Center	2 Processors, Unlimited OSEs (Operating system Environments) or Unlimited virtualization
System Center 2012 Standard	2 Processors, 2 OSEs. Low density or no virtualization

Licensing model is very simple in System Center 2012 that is completely based upon processors. Each editions of System Center 2012 cover up to two physical processors. System Center 2012 Data Center edition covers up to 2processors and support unlimited virtualization, whereas, System center 2012 Standard edition covers up to 2processors but only two virtual OSEs per license.

Another significant change in System Center 2012 as compared to the previous versions is related to the workload manageability. In System Center 2012, you have the full right to manage any kind of basic workloads like file or print, and advanced workloads like SQL Server or Exchange Server. You have the right to deploy the supporting SQL Server runtime without additional license.

In short;

•          System Center 2012 license is based on 2 physical processors per license
•          Any type of workload can be managed
•          Supporting runtime SQL server can be installed without extra license

As we know, System Center 2012 suite consists of various components like SCOM, SCCM, DPM, SCSM etc. Each of these components is not sold individually or on a stand-alone basis. They are sold under the same integrated server Management License (ML).  Both editions of System Center 2012 provide the right to all of these components.

Note: An individual license may not be spread across multiple devices. For example, if you have two physical servers having one processor per server, you will have to either buy the 2 Standard edition licenses or 2 Data Center edition licenses.

Example 1: In this example, if you have two physical servers with one processor on each server, and these servers are not virtualized, in this case, you will have to buy 2 licenses, either Standard or Datacenter. Even though one license covers 2 processors, but one license can’t be spread across multiple devices. In this scenario, it will be economical to buy Standard licenses as servers are not virtualized. 

Example 2: A single physical server with 4 processors, non-virtualized, and thus running one OSEs. In this case, the server will require two Server MLs, either Standard or Datacenter. More economical approach would be to go with a Standard edition license as server is not virtualized.

Example 3: A single physical server with two processors and running three virtual OSEs. You can have two options; first is to buy two Standard edition licenses as one Standard license covers only two virtual OSEs.  Second option is to buy one Datacenter license for unlimited virtual OSEs, for example, if you increase virtual machine destiny in the future. More economical approach would be to buy two Standard licenses as two licenses can be stacked on the same server to gain the right to manage more virtual machines.

Example 4: A single physical server with 2 processors and eight virtual OSEs. You can have either 4 Standard licenses as one Standard license supports 2 virtual OSEs or 1 Datacenter license with unlimited virtual OSEs support.  Four Standard licenses can be stacked together but it would be more expensive than having theDatacenter edition.

SC 2012: Manage any type of workloads like SQL, Exchange etc. unlike previous editions where you had to track for managing basic workloads like file/print or advanced workloads like SQL/Exchange

Current license on Server Mgt Suite Version	System Center 2012 License
SMS Datacenter - 2	1
SMS Enterprise - 1	2

Though no. of licenses reducing, your usage rights remain the same

Each existing System Center 2010 license, Enterprise and Standard, or any Management Server license will grant to one System Center 2012 license.

Need Step-up license to move from Standard to Datacenter.

• Customers with Software Assurance coverage on current SC licenses when SC 2012 becomes generally available will receive a license migration plan
• Management Server licenses have been removed in from the SC 2012.

Enrollment for Core Infrastructure (ECI) is a Microsoft license offering that includes both Windows Server and System center server Management

·         Currently ECI only supports one physical processor. ·         Current 2 ECI Datacenter processor licenses translate to one new ECI DC license ·         Current 1 ECI Enterprise processor licenses translate to one new ECI Standard license ·         Current 1 ECI Standard processor licenses translate to one new ECI Standard license