New Licensing Model Announced for Windows Web Server

Microsoft is making significant changes to the use rights for Windows Server 2008, and as a SPLA Reseller you should advise your SPLA accounts of this exciting information.

In January 2010, the Service Provider Usage Rights (SPUR) for Windows Server 2008 will include two important modifications:

• Usage will no longer be limited to front-end servers, and
• Servers operating on Windows Web Server may be used as database servers for Internet Web sites running on other servers.

Please note that use rights are version-specific.

By removing limitations of use to Web-facing servers and extending usage rights to database servers for other Internet Web servers, Microsoft clarifies and extends its licensing terms to include all Web operations. The new licensing model will offer more flexible solutions for SPLA partners and a better licensing product for SPLA resellers.

Use Rights for Windows Web Server

Windows Web Server helps IT professionals to optimize the reliability and flexibility of their server while offering developers a robust platform for building connected applications and services.

Windows Web Server may be used for:

• the development and deployment of publicly accessible Web pages, Web sites, Web applications, Web services and POP3 mail services on Internet Web servers,
• running Web server software (such as Microsoft Internet Information Services) and database engine software (such as Microsoft SQL), and
• Domain Name Services (DNS) providing resolution of Internet names to IP addresses, as long as DNS is not the sole function of the software in that instance.

Any other use of the software is not permitted.

Stay updated on changes to Microsoft products and their use rights with Product Licensing Search.