Lucy Ellis is the World Wide Windows on ProLiant Product Marketing Manager for HP. Microsoft Windows Server Downgrades from HP OEM Licenses are reviewedSpecifically an overview is provided for HP OEM License customer rights and How To’s for downgrades. Eventhough, Microsoft Licenses allows customers to downgrade their Operating systems, remember to check HP support of a new ProLiant servers along with these downgraded versions at HP’s OS support matrix.
Before downgrading
Sales for Windows Server 2003 R2 by any OEM ended on Dec. 31st 2009 by Microsoft. Also end of certification of any new server for Windows Server 2003 R2 was ended by Microsoft on July 30th, 2010. If your customer believes they need this older OS by exercising their downgrade rights, make sure expectations have been set appropriately about the hardware support. Also if a customer believes, they need 32 bit, the downgraded version is not the only way they must go. Check out the recently updated information in the article “running 32 bit applications”: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384249(v=vs85).aspx
OEM Downgrade rights
Here are the Microsoft downgrade rights for Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or Enterprise Edition. Customers can downgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2 to:
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows server 2000.
Downgrade to Windows Server 2008
For an HP OEM License Customer to exercise rights for the downgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2008 here are the three options:
- Option 1: A customer can buy the downgrade kit at the time of the purchase of the new HP OEM Windows Server 2008 R2 product. The downgrade kit part numbers are available for all of HP licensed options. Preinstalled, non preinstalled and the ROK, our Reseller Option Kit. The Requirements are that your customer must purchase:
- The new server
- The new HP Windows Server 2008 R2 License
- The HP Windows Server 2008 Downgrade Kit on the same order
The keys for the Windows Server 2008 Downgrade Kit must be obtained by following the HP Process. Inside the downgrade kit there are clear instructions on how to attain the keys from HP. There is a “read me first” card and a blue license envelope that will need to be completed. Remember: The Windows Server 2008 R2 keys will not activate the Windows Server 2008 downgrade. Please request your keys by eMail, on the web or by FAX. HP will send you the physical and the virtual keys. Option 1 is available from HP for both the Standard and the Enterprise Editions
- Option 2: To be followed by Web and Datacenter Customers from HP. Now for large volume orders please work with your HP representative. The HP Kit is available worldwide for a small fee. This is an option where you purchase a downgrade kit from the Microsoft site. Again, this is when you buy Windows Server 2008 R2 Edition and the new HP ProLiant. The downgrade kit can be obtained by going to the Microsoft fulfillment site. Microsoft, in order to fulfill your order, will request that you provide the 5x5 physical Windows Server 2008 R2 licensing key, and this is found on your cover. There is a small fee for the kit and shipping.
- Option 3: This option is where you go to the HP website. It is located at www.hp.com/go/wsdowngrade and you can obtain the downgrade kit from this website. The HP Kit requires the customer to provide one of the following items to show that the kit is an HP OEM license:
- A photo of the HP cover showing the 5x5 physical windows server 2008 R2 or
- A customer’s invoice where it shows the HP Windows Server 2008 R2 product on the order along with the server.
HP requires a small fee only payable by credit card for the kit and shipping.
At this time all OEMs have been given the rights to offer recovery and downgrade media kits for Windows Server 2008 until December 31st, 2011.
Downgrade to Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2000
Downgrade of Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2003 or to Windows Server 2000. Starting March 31st, 2011 Microsoft has ended the right for all OEMs to allow the distribution of recovery windows server 2003 media. Customers have the following two options:
- Option 1: Go to the Microsoft Fulfillment site and obtain the kits and the keys .
- Option 2: Provide HP with the customer custom image to pre-load on the server. This requires the involvement of an HP Sales representative.
Further Information
Remember to check the HP Hardware Certification pages to confirm if the desired HP hardware can run these older operating systems. Microsoft allows customers, who purchase these Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 products, the right to downgrade their licenses. And they have several additional rules and regulations. Please see the following websites to confirm those rules and regulations with your customer:
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