Questions & Answers from the SBS 2003 R2 Fast Track Series - Session 3: Licensing – A Revenue Generator for your SBS 2003 R2 Business

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Here is a collection of several of the questions we received during the SBS 2003 R2 Fast Track Series Session 3 sessions along with their answers. If you have not attended the sessions yet, be sure to go to: https://www.msreadiness.com and search for “Fast Track” to register for the 4 different tracks we are offering in the series or view the already recorded sessions from last week or this week.

Q&A Log

1) Can you install pieces of SBS on 2 or more Physical Servers? Windows Server on one box and Exchange on another?

a. ANSWER: No, you cannot split the server components of an SBS license across multiple servers. The SBS Server components must be installed on one server. You can also find this answer in Question #24 of “The 30 in 30” series we posted.

2) If I have SBS 2003 R2, can I load SQL 2000 instead of SQL 2005 Workgroup Edition?

a. ANSWER: If you have an SBS 2003 R2 license, you can downgrade the entire SBS Premium Suite to SBS 2003 Premium SP1 which would allow you to run Windows Server 2003 SP1, Exchange Server 2003, ISA 2004 and SQL 2000 or you can choose to not downgrade the whole Premium Suite and run SBS 2003 R2, Exchange Server 2003, ISA 2004 and SQL 2005 Workgroup Edition. You cannot downgrade just one component of the suite. You can also find this answer in Question #32 of “The 30 in 30” series we posted.

3) Does 5 User CAL = concurrent usage? i.e. you could have 6 users but no more than 5 concurrent?

a. ANSWER: No, there is no concurrent usage of SBS CALs. So, if you have 5 User CALs, 5 Users can access the SBS Server. If you add a 6th User, you would need to purchase an additional SBS User CAL for that User.

4) The speaker mentioned this 4 fasttrack webcast are available on demand... is that correct..if so what id the link?

a. ANSWER: If you have not attended these sessions yet, be sure to go to: https://www.msreadiness.com and search for “Fast Track” to register for the 4 different tracks we are offering in the series or view the already recorded sessions from last week or this week.

5) When someone buys OEM licenses, then adds SA to that purchase - is that transferable if the PC dies or is upgraded?

a. ANSWER: If you add Software Assurance to an OEM Server or OEM Office license within 90 days of purchase, then the OEM Server or OEM Office license is transferable with the Software Assurance to a new PC. If you add Software Assurance to an OEM Windows license within 90 days, the Software Assurance is transferable to a new PC; however, the OEM Windows license is NEVER transferable to a new PC. If you do not add Software Assurance to your OEM Server or Office licenses within 90 days, then they remain OEM licenses and cannot be transferred to a new PC. You can find this on slide #40 from today’s Session #3

6) Do the volume licenses apply to upgrades only or can you put volume licenses on new computers? It was our understanding that volume licenses were for upgrade use only.

a. ANSWER: You can purchase full Server and Office licenses through Volume License for your PCs and servers. The only item you cannot purchase a full license for through Volume Licensing is your Windows Desktop Operating System which there are only Upgrades available for through Volume Licensing. The only way to purchase a full Windows Desktop Operating System is OEM with a new PC or via Retail Box.

7) Under Open Business and Open Value...do you own the license rights to the product in perpetuity...ie after the 2 or 3 years of the program?

a. ANSWER: Yes, licenses purchased through Open Business and Open Value are perpetual licenses and do not expire. The only things that expire at the end of the 2 or 3 year terms are your Software Assurance benefits which you can choose to renew when they expire. You can also find this answer in Question #5 of “The 30 in 30” series we posted.

8) Can customers sign up for Open Value when using Microsoft Financing?

a. ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY! Yes, you can definitely use Microsoft Financing for Open Value orders for your customers. Just be sure to sell your customers the 3 years up-front payment SKU instead of the split payment SKU when using MS Financing since MS Financing will split the payments over three years for you. Then you receive your full Open Value amounts up front and your customer gets the benefits of monthly payments for their Open Value purchase. For instance, with the Small Business Desktop Advantage, you would use part # B6K-00050 (up front payment) instead of B6K-00052 (spread payments) if you were processing the order through Microsoft Financing.

9) Who does the customer pay for Open Value? Do I have to collect payments?

a. ANSWER: You purchase the Year 1 SKU through your distributor (i.e. Ingram, Tech Data, Synnex, D&H, etc.) and sell it to your customer. Your customer pays you, you pay your distributor. It works like any other transaction you process through distribution. For years 2 & 3, Microsoft emails a reminder to the distributor, you, and your customer that the annual payments are coming due, at which point you purchase the Year 2 SKU through your distributor (i.e. Ingram, Tech Data, Synnex, D&H, etc.) and sell it to your customer. Your customer pays you, you pay your distributor. You can view this on Page 3 of the “Partner Guide to Open Value” in the Partner Resources section of the Small Business Desktop Sales Kit that was sent to every Microsoft Small Business Specialist. The Sales Kit is also available by clicking the link above and accessing it through the Small Business Specialist Exclusive website.

10) What is the best licensing choice for a 501(c)3 not for profit? They use techsoup.

a. ANSWER: The Open License Charity Program is designed for 501(c)3 organizations. If you are not already an Open License Charity provider (no, we are not taking any applications for new ones), then Techsoup is a very good provider to help them facilitate their needs. You could also contact one of the Authorized Open License Charity providers listed on the Open License Charity Program web page to see about partnering with them.

11) Is it only Office Pro for the Home use benefits of Software Assurance, or any version?

a. The Home Use Rights benefit of Software Assurance provides a license of Office Professional for use at home. You could install just the components of Pro if you only wanted Word or Excel for instance. You can find out more that the Home Use Software Assurance Benefits website.

12) As a small shop, I don't have a lot of time to spend figuring out which of these many options is right for each customer (let alone, keeping up with program changes!). Is there a resource I can use where I can tell someone the customer's scenario and they can tell me which option would be right?

a. ANSWER: You should leverage the Microsoft Volume Licensing desks at your distributors for assistance with these scenarios. They should be able to provide you with the answers you are looking for. If you are a Microsoft Small Business Specialist and you have questions about the Small Business Desktop Advantage license, I will be conducting weekly sales forums in the near future where we will go through those questions regarding the Small Business Desktop Advantage offer. You can register for these forums on the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Exclusive website as these forums will only be available to Microsoft Small Business Specialists as a benefit of the SBSC Program.

13) If they allow their SA to lapse, can they still transfer the license to new hardware?

a. ANSWER: Yes, they still have the Volume Licensing rights, which include transfer rights. They would just lose their Software Assurance benefits.

14) How many years can you renew the SA benefits on an Open Value purchase?

a. ANSWER: The Open Value Program is a 3 Year program, so you would renew your Software Assurance benefits for three years.

15) We still have not seen this Small Business Desktop Kit and yes we are SBSC, who do we call?

a. ANSWER: You can access the Small Business Desktop Sales Kit online on the Small Business Specialist Exclusive website or go to the Small Business Specialist Exclusive website and click the “Contact us” button to send them your information to let them know you did not receive it.

16) If a company already has an open license, sold by a different vendor, can they purchase additional licenses from my company?

a. ANSWER: Yes, you would need to provide the Open License Authorization # to the distributor at time of purchase so they know to add the licenses to that Agreement.

17) Is some kind of licensing tool built into the SBS assessment toolkit?

a. ANSWER: No, there is not currently a licensing component built into the SBS Assessment Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to let you have a business and technology discussion with your clients to determine where they are going with their business and then that information would be applied by you to determine which licensing programs/options would be best for them.

18) Is there an option to do the Small Business Desktop without SBS CAL for not SBS customers?

a. ANSWER: You can do an Open Value Company-wide Agreement for just the Office Small Business Edition or just the Windows XP Pro Upgrade; however, because of the price discounts built into the Small Business Desktop Advantage, it costs less to purchase the Small Business Desktop Advantage with the SBS CAL than it does to purchase the Company-Wide options for the Office SBE and Windows XP Pro Upgrades independently. There is an option called the Desktop Pro which is a Company-wide offering through Open Value that provides a Windows XP Pro Upgrade, and Office Professional License and a Core CAL license with 3 years of Software Assurance with an ERP of $1,31 each if your customer would be a better fit for the Core CAL. It is Part # A07-00256 with split payment or Part # A07-00254 for up-front payments (if using Microsoft Financing) if you are interested in that option.

19) When utilizing the transition pack to get e