Microsoft’s own “Lady Licensing,” Emma Healey, posted a blog entry today about System Center 2012 (SC 2012) simplifing its multi-SKU lineup to two editions (datacenter and standard) to provide an integrated solution to manage applications across private, public and hybrid cloud scenarios.  She discusses how the updated licensing changes better align users with a hybrid cloud management design, which Microsoft continues to see as a prevalent trend in customer scenarios. 

Together with Windows Server, System Center 2012 anchors Microsoft’s private cloud environment, helping make it possible for customers to build and manage the world of hybrid IT.  We believe fewer SKUs and a simpler licensing construct make it easier for customers to choose Microsoft’s integrated private cloud solution leveraging the Windows Server platform and systems management solutions. It also creates a real opportunity to leverage the Enrollment for Core Infrastructure (ECI) offerings. 

Emma provides a nice summary on what’s new: 

What are the key SC 2012 server management licensing changes?

  • Reduced SKU line-Up pulling 8 independent products into 2 edition: Datacenter for cloud and highly virtualized environments, Standard for more traditional.
  • Both editions contain the same components and capabilities. The only difference is the number of Operating System Environments (OSEs) that you can manage per license: 2 for Standard, unlimited for Datacenter.
  • Licenses are only required for managed “endpoints”, no additional licenses are needed for management servers software or the ‘SQL Server Technology’
  • Licensing model is processor-based, where each license covers up to 2 Processors 

She goes on to describe the migration paths for System Center customers with Software Assurance, outlining the key takeaways IT professionals and procurement folks need to know about transitioning to the new software. Great stuff. 

Supplementary to Emma’s latest blog post we also want to share some additional resources which may be of interest to our readers.  We hope you find them useful. 

  • Investigate additional perspective from Microsoft on Cloud Computing with content shared at the recent Microsoft Management Summit
  • Check out the power of private cloud through our “Guided Labs” – register and download the evaluation software. 
  • In their own words, hear from a customer – T. Rowe Price – as well as some of the product team who helped build the latest edition of System Center 

Video - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/videos/videodetail.aspx?uuid=527481a2-f65d-4751-a1a3-514af608f786 

Video - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/showcase/details.aspx?uuid=c7194ab9-8ab4-4be6-8b9a-a7c4885dbcea&WT.mc_id=facebook_System+Center+Perspectives

For more reading on System Center 2012 licensing, check out the datasheet and FAQ posted HERE for Microsoft Partners, and more information HERE or HERE for Customers.