Formerly, only the Datacenter edition was available to install OS on VPS Windows, which complicated the situation when a customer wanted to move from a general virtual server to a virtual dedicated or fully dedicated server. However, the situation has changed completely; since today, installation media with MS Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012 and 2012 R2 Standard edition are available for VPS Windows virtual servers.
This change is available thanks to more precise interpretation of Microsoft licence policy and, most of all, thanks to our SPLA (Service Provider Licence Agreement) contract with Microsoft which enables us to rent Microsoft’s licences.
Both Coolhousing and our clients have the right, within a Windows Server licence, not just to make upgrade/ downgrade within the versions that enables a smooth transition between MS Win Server 2008 R2, 2012 and 2012 R2, but also to make an edition downgrade, i.e. the right to install a lower edition than the edition licenced by the server. Since all our virtual servers are secured with the Datacenter licence, our customers are allowed to install both Windows Server Datacenter edition and Windows Server Standard edition (which provides many more advantages when upgrading to a dedicated solution) to a virtual server.
If you plan to move to a dedicated server in the future, you can perform this task by a simple upgrade without the need to re-install your server, which will save both your time and money. Well, throw yourself to MS Windows Server Standard edition installation!
Author: Jirka Dvořák