Server 2012 Upgrade

[Quinn06]

Question.

We are upgrading one of three servers at a client. It is a 2003 server, and we are going to server standard 2012. Do I need to purchase new user CAL's or will the old ones transfer over.

Also, they use remote desktop, so if they have a regular User CAL can I upgrade that CAL to a Remote Services CAL? or do I have to purchase it separately?


Thanks!

 

[bitznpcz]

Yes, you need a Windows Server 2012 CAL to access a Windows Server 2012 server. You will also need to purchase Remote Services CALs as well on a client or device basis.

 

[computergeek]

Also keep in mind you will not be able to migrate to 2012 from 2003. The upgrade path will be equivalent to a nuke and pave.

Nothing will carry over from the 2003 server.

 

[mrapoc]

Out of interest what would be best practise for a 2012 migration.

Or 32 bit to 64 bit?

Setup a virtual machine on the server and start replicating settings if using the same hardware? Or server side by side until the same?

 

[bitznpcz]

Also keep in mind you will not be able to migrate to 2012 from 2003. The upgrade path will be equivalent to a nuke and pave.

Nothing will carry over from the 2003 server.

This is true if using the same hardware. If using a new server, I have migrated around a dozen machines from Server 2003 to 2012. There's a good starter here: http://community.spiceworks.com/how...-directory-from-server-2003-to-server-2012-r2

Check the spec of the current server if you are just upgrading the software as Server 2012 is a hungry beast and will require a quad-core processor and 8GB RAM as a minimum to run properly...

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yeah...hopefully the OP doesn't intend on doing an "OS Upgrade"...on the same old 2k3 vintage hardware.
But migration...yeah...2k3 to 2012 is certainly supported..I've done a lot.

 

[Quinn06]

I am upgrading from an old 2003 Server to a new Dell Poweredge 2012 Server. So with the remote access licenses, I just need licenses per device I am login into or is the remote access for every user that wants to log into that device?

Like I have 5 people that need to remote into the same server. How many licenses do I need?

Thanks!

 

[Mokester]

It's per device or user that needs remote access.

 

[bitznpcz]

That depends. If the 5 people are connecting from the same 5 devices, you need 5 licences.

Some details from Microsoft:

"When Per Device licensing mode is used, and a client computer or device connects to an RD Session Host server for the first time, the client computer or device is issued a temporary license by default. When a client computer or device connects to an RD Session Host server for the second time, if the license server is activated and enough RDS Per Device CALs are available, the license server issues the client computer or device a permanent, RDS Per Device CAL.

An RDS Per User CAL gives one user the right to access an RD Session Host server from an unlimited number of client computers or devices. RDS Per User CALs are not enforced by RD Licensing. As a result, client connections can occur regardless of the number of RDS Per User CALs installed on the license server. This does not absolve administrators from Microsoft Software License Terms requirements to have a valid RDS Per User CAL for each user. Failure to have an RDS Per User CAL for each user, if Per User licensing mode is being used, is a violation of the license terms."

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

You'll have the Server 2012 license
You'll have a User CAL for each user account on the domain
You'll have an RDS CAL for each remote desktop services user...in addition to their regular User CAL.

More commonly you'll use User CALs instead of Device CALs.

 

[Quinn06]

So right now, I have a client with a Windows server 2008 with all the roles on it.

I have added a new Windows Server 2012 to the domain, and all the workstations point to this DNS Server /AD Server.

I want to transfer all the FSMO Roles to the 2012 Server and reload the 2008 Server and start fresh.

So far I have not been prompted for New User CAL's, but if I transfer the roles to the 2012 server will it prompt me for new CAL's?

Has anyone tried this?

Thanks!

 

[freedomit]

So right now, I have a client with a Windows server 2008 with all the roles on it.

I have added a new Windows Server 2012 to the domain, and all the workstations point to this DNS Server /AD Server.

I want to transfer all the FSMO Roles to the 2012 Server and reload the 2008 Server and start fresh.

So far I have not been prompted for New User CAL's, but if I transfer the roles to the 2012 server will it prompt me for new CAL's?

Has anyone tried this?

Thanks!

Servers dont don't prompt for User CALS at all, it's your responsibility to make sure you are correctly licensed. My understand is that when you installed the 2012 server you should have bought new 2012 CALS for all users...I think

 

[ComputerPro]

Yup on the above. Your 120 day or whatever it is RDS license will run out and you will definitely need the RDS cals. A 5 pack is approx an extra $630 bucks or so. Keep in mind RDS is more complicated and a bit more of a pain in the butt than it was with 2003. You have a connection broker, RD licensing server, RD web access, RD virtualization host, RD session host. There are tricks to setting it up without using the connection broker and just using it 'old school' per se. You have to edit the local policy and do some powershell commands but it works.
Remember to use licmgr.msc to get to the license manager if the connection broker isn't installed. We just set one of these up like this last week.