Does it matter if I purchase my SBS Server through OEM, Retail, or Open License?

  • Article

This morning there was a question posed by a Partner about whether or not it matters if they purchase the SBS Server for their client through OEM, Retail, or Open License. The answer is, “Yes,” it does make a difference when you are purchasing any Microsoft software for your clients whether you purchase OEM, Retail, or Volume Licenses and you should make sure to choose the option that best suits the needs of your client.

Remember that there are different rights associated with OEM, Retail, and Volume License licenses of all products. You can see more about this in Question #10 of “The 30 in 30” series I posted awhile back. For instance, the Transfer Rights are very different amongst these three license types. OEM licenses do not have transfer rights, Retail licenses do, and so do Volume Licenses. Here is a quick video I posted earlier showing how transfer rights work through the example of OEM with and without Software Assurance.

For this particular topic, I have also put up a few other posts specifically speaking to the topic of full SBS Server licenses and whether or not Retail Box is the best way to go:

- Why would I order part# T72-00020? (SBS 2003 Server Retail Box)

- Part #2 of: Why would I order part# T72-00020? (SBS 2003 Server Retail Box)

Granted, the part #s referenced in the posts above are no longer valid since SBS 2008 is now out; however, the principles remain the same.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman
Global Partner Experience Lead
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

Add to Technorati Favorites

Bookmark on: MSDN , TechNet, and Expression

Technorati Tags: Microsoft,licensing,Eric Ligman,OEM,Retail Box,FPP,Open License,Open Business,Open Value,OVS,Open Value Subscription,transfer rights,SBS,Small Business Server,rights,Software Assurance,SA,30 in 30

del.icio.us Tags: Microsoft,licensing,Eric Ligman,OEM,Retail Box,FPP,Open License,Open Business,Open Value,OVS,Open Value Subscription,transfer rights,SBS,Small Business Server,rights,Software Assurance,SA,30 in 30