[Johnnygoose]

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

[mklinger]

Server 2008 R2 Standard is all you need for a SQL server. You will need client access licensing to access your
Server environment from workstations if you don't have that already. If you need contact at CDW let me know.

[Johnnygoose]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry my original post didn't explain that this server is already set up with an evaluation version of Server 2012 Standard, SQL Server 2012 Express and the software application that requires SQL Server. It's up and running and the E=evaluation license is going to expire shortly. All we're looking to do is buy the proper license for Server 2012 Standard along with 5 CAL's. Just wanted to know if the license I linked to is the correct one, I called Microsoft Licensing but there was a bit of a language barrier and I couldn't get a straight answer.