1. Windows Server 2012 Standard Additional License After Point of Sale (APOS) version for OEM
What is the new Windows Server 2012 Standard Additional License APOS version?
SMBs are increasingly using virtualization to drive efficiency and reduce cost. However, not all customers plan ahead and buy Windows Server Datacenter to support unlimited VMs. Most SMBs start with one copy of Windows Server Standard but, as their need for VMs grows, they currently don’t have an easy way to add additional licenses (also known as stacking) APOS. We are now introducing Windows Server Standard Additional License for APOS. This helps customers scale their businesses based on need while staying compliant.
Details
Available August 1, 2015 to all OEMs, the Additional License may be sold as long as there is a base license of either Windows Server 2012 Standard or Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (WS2012/R2). Each Additional License provides rights to 2 additional VMs and 2 additional CPUs.
The new Additional License comes with re-assignment rights. This means that Additional Licenses can now be re-assigned to another physical server that has a WS2012/R2 Standard base license. This can be done once every 90 days. Note: no other OEM license has re-assignment rights.
The Additional License will be a new SKU / part number and will replace the current Windows Server Additional License POS SKU which will EOL on July 31st. The Additional License will not include media but will include a product key. MNAs will have the ability to SKU this up as ROK (as they currently do with CALs).
Partners may sell Additional Licenses from a specific OEM only to customers who purchased at least one WS2012/R2 Standard base license from that OEM.
Partner benefits of selling Additional Licenses
Increased revenue: Grow your revenue by selling Additional Licenses after you have sold the hardware with a WS2012/R2 base license to your customers. This gives you an opportunity to continue to attach OS even as sales of physical hardware declines.
Earn incentives: Keep earning incentives for selling Additional Licenses even without selling any new hardware.
Another reason to engage your customer: The ability to offer customers a solution to virtualize after point of sale gives you another opportunity to engage your customer even when they are not in an active buying mode. According to a Forrester Research the #1 hardware priority for 61% of the SMBs surveyed is virtualization. Now, as a trusted advisor to your customers, you can continue to help them on their journey to modernize their businesses and gain efficiencies from virtualization.
Customer benefits of buying Additional Licenses
Scale as you need: You now have the flexibility to scale your server as your business need dictates even if you chose not to purchase unlimited VMs at the outset with a Windows Server Datacenter license.
Re-assign your license: Your Additional License is not tied to a physical server. You can now re-assign your Additional Licenses (not only your VMs) to another server if you need to. Note: your WS2012/R2 Standard base license is still tied to a physical server and may not be re-assigned.
Be compliant: Additional Licenses give you a way to be compliant with the Microsoft License Terms of WS2012/R2 Standard as you add VMs to your Windows Server Standard OS.
FAQs on Additional License
FAQ #1: How is the Additional License different from volume license (VL)?
Answer: An Additional License is sold by an OEM partner and stacks on top of an existing WS2012/R2 Standard base license and allows customers to scale the number of VMs running on a server. A volume license is purchased from a reseller as a standalone license and downloaded from a Microsoft site.
FAQ #2: Can APOS be applied on top of a VL base license?
Answer: An OEM partner cannot sell an Additional License directly to a customer for stacking on top of a WS2012/R2 Standard volume license. But once a customer has purchased an Additional License to stack on top of a base OEM license, he can re-assign the Additional License to another physical server that has a VL base license.
FAQ #3: Is there a limit to the number of Additional Licenses that can be stacked on top of a WS2012/R2 Standard base license?
Answer: No, any number of Additional Licenses can be stacked on top of a WS2012/R2 Standard base license.
FAQ #4: Is there a time limit within which the Additional License must be purchased?
Answer: No, a customer may purchase an Additional License at any time after his purchase of a WS2012/R2 Standard base license. 2

2. Windows Server 2012 Standard Additional License After Point of Sale (APOS) version for OEM
Positioning WS2012/R2 Additional License APOS
Edition
Windows Server Standard
Ideal for
Low density or non-virtualized environments
Feature Comparison
Licensing Model
Full Windows Server functionality with two virtual instances
Processor + CAL
Additional License (APOS) with Windows Server Standard License
Customers ready for virtualization
Ability to expand incrementally beyond the 2 VM limit by purchasing WS2012/R2 Standard edition Additional Licenses and stacking them. Great option when the unlimited virtualization rights available with Datacenter edition are not required.
Windows Server Datacenter
Customers ready for unlimited virtualization
Full Windows Server functionality with unlimited virtual instances
Processor + CAL
Another opportunity to sell CALs!
All customers who connect to Windows Server Standard or Datacenter editions are required to have Client Access Licenses (CALs). The best time to sell CALs is at point of sale of the original server and OS. However, as customers’ business grow, they need more CALs – but may not proactively reach out to resellers to purchase them. Engaging a customer to sell an Additional License is the perfect opportunity to also address the customer’s need for more CALs (which keeps the customer compliant). Below is a refresher on server CALs.
User CALs
Device CALs
RDS CALs
Choose if people need roaming access to the corporate network from multiple devices.
Add Remote Desktop Services (RDS) CALs if users or devices need to access virtual desktops, remote application programs, or session-based desktops.
Choose if multiple people share a single device, such as shift workers.
FAQs on CALs
FAQ #1: If I have an RDS CAL, do I still need to have a Windows Server User or Device CAL?
Answer: Yes, Remote Desktop Services require a Windows Server User or Device CAL in addition to an RDS CAL.
FAQ #2: Is a CAL tied to a specific user or device?
Answer: Yes, CALs must be assigned to specific users or devices. If a user leaves the company or a device is retired, a CAL may be reassigned to a different user or device.
FAQ #3: Are CALs specific to each version of Windows Server OS?
Answer: CALs must be of the same version as (or a more recent version of) the OS they are accessing.
FAQ #4: Are CALs specific to each OEM?
Answer: No, CALs from one OEM / partner may be used with a server from a different OEM.
FAQ #5: Is there a difference between OEM and VL CALs?
Answer: No, OEM and VL CALs have the same rights.