So we have a SBS 2003 standard sp1 box – Can we add SA to the Retail R2 Upgrade?

This question was just posed earlier today, so I thought I would post the answer here so others knew the right answer (and where to find it) as well.

So the scenario presented is someone with an SBS 2003 Standard SP1 box without Software Assurance today. They want to go to SBS 2003 R2 Standard and want to know if they can purchase the SBS 2003 R2 Standard Version Upgrade (See my R2 Retail Box Upgrade Matrix post) and then add Software Assurance to that R2 Standard Version Upgrade?

The answer is, “Yes, you can add Software Assurance to the Retail Box R2 Version Upgrade within 90 days of the purchase.” Remember that you can add Software Assurance to any OEM or Retail Boxed Server software purchase within 90 days of the OEM or Retail Box purchase. You can find this documented in the Software Assurance Customer Guide on page 34 where it states:

Software Assurance Eligibility

You can get Software Assurance through Microsoft’s Volume Licensing programs by acquiring Licenses with Software Assurance (L&SA). Or if you acquired Microsoft Office applications, operating system or server software through a Full Packaged Product (FPP) License in retail or a License from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), you have 90 days to enroll that product in Software Assurance.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman
Microsoft US Senior Manager
Small Business Community Engagement
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights