Question 1

I want to set up a lab environment at home. Im a student taking system admin classes. I work on virtual machines  in class but I want to set up  a psychical network to gain more experience. Would this be a good choice?
Thanks

Accepted Answer

As a student, you might be able to get student pricing for this software.  Windows Server 2012 R2 is a good product.  You can get Windows Hyper-V 2012 R2 Server for free.  Newegg won't like me post a link, so you'll have to use Google to find and download the software.  It will be a microsoft site.

The free version used to be a console-based server (I haven't used the free version since Hyper-V 2008 R2).  If this is still the case, you'll learn a lot about PowerShell and being an admin for a Hyper-V platform.

Hyper-V 2012 r2 is very good and can now more host guest OS including Linux distros.

Question 2

Do these work with Windows Server 2012 R2?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  The following is from page 2 of the Windows Server 2012 R2 Licensing Datasheet:

Note: Windows Server 2012 CALs are used to access
Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.

Question 3

Is that 5 work stations + server?

Accepted Answer

This is just the user license that allow you to have 5 people connection to into the server using remote desktop, or similar fashion. This is NOT the server editions of Windows, it's just an add on to server. Server 2012 has to be bought separately. This is different than having 5 devices (laptops, desktops)  connected. This is strictly for the amount of users, from any amount of machines at any given time.

Question 4

is this the RDP CAL?

Accepted Answer

No, this is User CAL licenses that are required to connect PC's to your Windows Server 2012 environment.  You need RDS CAL's for Terminal Services.

Question 5

HI, 
I have Windows Server 2012 R2 and I need ppl to connect to the server remotely. By Remote Desktop App.

Is this correct license for this?

Accepted Answer

You will need these CALs for anyone to access anything on the servers (files, printers, applications, etc.).  If you want people to be able to access a remote desktop hosted on this server, you will need to purchase additional RDSH licenses for each remote user/device.

Question 6

If my server came preloaded from Dell with Server 2008 R2 would I have to buy User cals directly from dell or can I purchase them here?

Accepted Answer

CAL licenses are not specific to OEMs or vendors. Yes, you can purchase CAL licenses for Windows Server from any vendor you choose. It does not have to be the same vendor from which you purchased the server operating system.

Question 7

Just want to be clear, these cals also work with Server 2008 correct?

Accepted Answer

Yes,  They Work On 2008. I Don't Have The Article Handy, But Microsoft Confirms That. They Don't Sell 2008 CALS Anymore.

Question 8

Can I use for OEM Windows 2012 R2?

Accepted Answer

Not sure why you'd EVER want to run server on a laptop - but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work. I guess I would NOT want to be on your network ....

Question 9

I have whs 2003. May I use this product to upgrade to 2011?  Will 2011 allow me to use larger than 2tb hard drives?

Thank you

Bob

Accepted Answer

This is not a server software at all. It is only a Client Access License for workstations to access a Windows Server.

Question 10

Does Microsoft Windows Server 2012 - 5 User CALs work with server 2012 r2 ? Or are there separate CALs for 2012r2 ?

Accepted Answer

It is just a license (paperwork) so that you are paying MS their due for the number of users or machines per the license terms.

2012 r2 is still 2012, so it is probably fine if you ever were audited.

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