1. Consistent licensing model across editions.
Product Overview 
Processor-based license, covering up to two
Microsoft System Center 2012 offers solutions for processors for server management. User- or OSE-
managing datacenter resources, private clouds, and client based license for client management.
devices.
Private Cloud/Datacenter Management Licensing Managed Servers
System Center 2012 helps your organization achieve IT as System Center 2012 server management licensing
a Service by enabling: maximizes your private cloud value while simplifying
purchasing. All server management licenses (SMLs)
 Productive infrastructure: Deliver flexible, cost-
include the same components and the ability to manage
effective private-cloud infrastructure to your business
any workload. System Center 2012 SMLs will be released
units in a self-service model, while carrying forward
in two editions differentiated by virtualization rights only:
your existing data center investments.
 Datacenter: Maximizes cloud capacity with unlimited
 Predictable applications: Deep application insight
virtualization for high density private clouds
combined with a “service-centric” approach helps you
deliver predictable application-service levels.  Standard: For lightly or non-virtualized private cloud
workloads.
 Cloud computing on your terms: Deliver and
consume private and public cloud computing on your
Edition Components Included
terms with common management experiences across
your hybrid environments.  Operations Manager
Client Management  Configuration Manager
System Center 2012 helps IT empower people to use the  Data Protection Manager
devices and applications they need to be productive,  Service Manager
while maintaining corporate compliance and control.
 Virtual Machine Manager
System Center 2012 Licensing  Endpoint Protection*
 Orchestrator
Overview  App Controller*
System Center 2012 introduces a new edition line-up to
*New Component Introduced with
address your Private Cloud and client device management
System Center 2012
needs. System Center 2012 licensing is simplified through:
 License required only for endpoints being
managed. No additional System Center licenses are
needed for management servers or SQL Server
technology.

2. Server ML Edition Comparison: Multiple System Center 2012 Standard licenses may be
assigned to the same server to license the number of
Datacenter Standard
managed OSEs. Components included in the Server MLs
# of physical processors per are not available separately.
2 2
license
Flexibility to License Managed OSEs Running
# of Managed Operating on Public Cloud Platforms
System Environments Unlimited 2
All System Center 2012 Server Management Licenses with
(OSEs) per license
active Software Assurance qualify for License Mobility
Includes all System Center through Software Assurance benefits. With the License
server management   Mobility through Software Assurance benefit, you can
components
assign Server MLs to manage applications running on a
Right to run management public cloud infrastructure.
server software and
supporting SQL Server   For more information, see the Microsoft License Mobility
Runtime (SQL Server through Software Assurance Customer Guide.
Standard Edition)
Manage any type of Transitioning to the New Server
 
supported workload
Licensing Model
Open No Level (NL) License
and Software Assurance $3,607 $1,323 If you have Software Assurance coverage on your current
(L&SA) 2-year price System Center licenses at the time of System Center 2012
Components included in the Server MLs are not available General Availability, you will receive the following System
separately. Center 2012 Server ML grants at the ratios listed below:
Determining the Number of Licenses Needed Current License
Conversion
New License(s)
Server MLs are required for managed devices that run Ratio
server Operating System Environments (OSEs). Licenses 1 System Center
Server Management Suite
are processor-based, with each license covering up to two 2:1* 2012 Datacenter
Datacenter (SMSD)
physical processors. The number of Server MLs required Server ML
for each managed server is determined by the number of 2 System Center
Server Management Suite
physical processor in the server for Datacenter Edition 1:2 2012 Standard
Enterprise (SMSE)
and either number of physical processors in the server or Server MLs
number of OSEs being managed for Standard Edition 1 System Center
Any Single Enterprise
(whichever is greater). If you choose the Standard Server 1:1 2012 Standard
Server ML
ML, you can add more licenses to a server to manage a Server ML
greater number of virtual OSEs. 1 System Center
Any Single Standard
1:1 2012 Standard
Examples: Server ML
Server ML
Datacenter Standard
Any Single Management 1 System Center
Server MLs Server MLs
Server License (with or 1:1 2012 Standard
Required Required
without SQL Technology) Server ML
One 1-processor, non-
1 1
virtualized server 1 System Center
System Center Virtual
One 4-processor, non- 1:1 2012 Datacenter
2 2 Machine Manager
virtualized server Server MLs
One 2-processor server *System Center 2012 Datacenter covers up to 2 processors per
1 2
with 3 virtual OSEs license, whereas SMSD only covers 1 processor per license.
One 4-processor server
2 4
with 8 virtual OSEs
This document is provided “as-is”. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site
references, may change without notice. This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any
Microsoft product.

3. You may migrate from System Center 2012 Standard to
System Center 2012 Datacenter by purchasing a Step-Up Licensing Managed Clients
License. Client Management Licenses (MLs) are required for
managed devices that run non-server OSEs. There are
Moving to Processor-based Licensing three System Center 2012 Client ML offerings:
 Customers with existing licenses under Software Client
Configuration Endpoint
Assurance (SA) can upgrade to System Center 2012 at Management
Manager Protection
no additional cost. At the date of General Availability, Suite Client
Client ML Subscription
existing licenses will be exchanged for processor ML
based licenses and customers can renew their SA on Components Configuration Endpoint Service
processor licenses. Included Manager Protection Manager
 System Center Server Management Suite Enterprise Virtual Operations
Edition under SA will be exchanged for a minimum of Machine Manager
2 System Center 2012 Standard Edition licenses per Manager
Data
server or for the actual number of processors in use. Protection
Manager
 Standalone Standard or Enterprise Server
Management Licenses will be exchanged for a Orchestrator
minimum of 1 System Center 2012 Standard Edition
Included in
licenses per server or for the actual number of Core CAL  
processors in use. Suite
 At the end of the current agreement term, customers Included in
should do a self-inventory, documenting the number
Enterprise   
CAL Suite
of processors in each server in use with System
Open NL
Center Server Management Suite Enterprise Edition or
L&SA 2-year $62 $22 $121
standalone Server Management Licenses covered
price
with Software Assurance. This will enable customers
to receive the appropriate number of processor
Client MLs are available on a per-OSE or per-user basis.
licenses based on System Center 2012 to continue
Components included in the Client MLs are not available
their current deployments.
separately.
 Customers should do this self-inventory using the
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit or
other inventory tools and processes to accurately
archive a time/date stamped inventory of hardware
tied to System Center installations.
 If customers do not perform the self-inventory, they
will receive two System Center 2012 licenses for each
System Center Server Management Suite Enterprise
Edition and one license for each standalone Server
Management License.

4. Transitioning to the New Client Planning for System Center 2012
If you are planning to deploy System Center 2012, either
Licensing Model through upgrades or new licenses, please remember:
If you have Software Assurance coverage on your current
System Center licenses at the time of System Center 2012  Renewing Software Assurance (SA) is the best way to
General Availability, you will receive the following System protect investments and provide access to new
versions as well as Deployment Planning Services and
Center 2012 Server ML grants at the ratios listed in the
technical assistance.
following table
 The Microsoft Enrollment for Core Infrastructure (ECI)
Current License New License
will continue to offer the best value for private cloud
System Center Operations and datacenter management pricing.
Manager Client ML
System Center 2012 Client  Select your edition of System Center 2012 based on
Management Suite Client virtualization rights:
System Center Data
ML license for each
Protection Manager Client ML
individual qualifying product o Datacenter Edition for highly virtualized
Client ML private clouds
System Center Service
Manager Client ML o Standard Edition for lightly or non-virtualized
private clouds
System Center Configuration
 Core CAL and Enterprise CAL Suites will continue to
Manager 2007 R3 Client ML System Center 2012
be the most cost effective way to purchase client
Configuration Manager
Client ML license
management products.
System Center Virtual
Machine Manager  Find out how flexible payments can help you get the
IT you need and stay on budget.
System Center 2012
Forefront Endpoint Protection Visit www.microsoft.com/financing for program
Endpoint Protection
2010 subscription
subscription details or to learn more contact your Microsoft
Solution Partner directly or by calling 1-800-936-3500
Note: There are no step-up paths for Client MLs.
in the United States and Canada.