Our company bought a new server to use with one application that requires SQL Server. The server came with Windows Server 2012 Essentials pre-installed. We found out SQL Server will not work with Essentials so the tech installed an evaluation version of Windows Server 2012 Standard. Now I need to license this and I'm trying to confirm the correct license to buy. I found one (link below) but CDW told me it's an OEM version and I need a Retail version. I understand there's no support with an OEM version but I can't find a retail version, other than that is there a reason I can't use an OEM version? Someone suggested that I purchase R2 and use the downgrade option but that's not something I'm comfortable doing.
https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Mi...e/2833290.aspx