Various 2003 Servers - Standard & Enterprise - Upgrade to R2?

[ADB100]

I have a few Windows 2003 Servers - some running Standard and a couple running Enterprise. The two running enterprise are also DC's. What benefits would I get from upgrading to R2, and what media do I need to do the upgrade and where do I get it?
These servers are on a network with no direct Internet connectivity so is there any reliance on an Internet connection during the upgrade for product activiation etc?

Thanks

Andy

 

[mrdenny]

If you buy the retail edition then you will need to activate. You can activate over the phone however.

You can purchase online or from most VARs or resellers.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[58sniper]

What's New in Windows Server 2003 R2

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/r2/whatsnewinr2.mspx

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[ADB100]

So do I need new copies of Windows 2003 R2 to replace the current ones then? I thought R2 was just an 'upgrade' to Windows 2003, not a replacement? I also thought that the retail version of Windows Server 2003 R2 had 2 CD's - one with Windows 2003 and the other with the R2 bit's?

I actually thought it would be free to current owners of Windows Server 2003, is this not the case?

Andy

 

[porkchopexpress]

R2 is a collection of addons and updates to 2003 SP1 and comes on a second CD, it's free to software assurance customers if you are not one then you need to purchace an upgrade.

 

[ADB100]

Please don't flame me here but I have a new copy of Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition. There are 2 CD's in the box - CD1 is Windows Server 2003 Standard SP1 and CD2 is the R2 optional components. If I run the 2nd CD on an existing Window Server 2003 machine what will happen? Will it need re-licensing or will it just install? I appreciate there is a potential license violation here but I would like to update the AD Schema if the any servers are likely to have R2 installed.

Andy

 

[Davetoo]

You have to have an R2 license key to install R2. If you subscribe to MS Licensing you'll get one, but be sure you purchase the upgrades to match.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.
The poster formerly known as lander215

 

[ADB100]

So I walked into a shop (not physically but you get the drift) and bought several copies of Windows Server 2003 and installed them on several servers. If I now want to update these to Windows Server 2003 R2 I need to re-purchase a copy for each server? What planet are Micro$oft on? We are not all corporates with money to burn (

 

[porkchopexpress]

I think if you buy a copy of Windows 2003 now then you will be purchacing a copy of R2.

 

[ADB100]

I think if you buy a copy of Windows 2003 now then you will be purchacing a copy of R2.

Yep, I have work that out now. How do I go about getting MS to take back the 2003 versions so I can buy the R2 versions?...........

 

[porkchopexpress]

I tried giving back my copies of Win 2k so i could buy XP.....

I think some of the new features are licenced so MS aren't going to give them away i'm afraid. If you bought your licence before R2 was released then you are stuck with the product that you purchaced i'm afraid.

 

[ADB100]

I now have ONE copy of Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition R2. I have two domain controllers running Windows Server 2003 Enterprise, what will happen if I attempt to 'downgrade' from Enterprise to Standard?

 

[ADB100]

Obviously on only one server since the one copy of Windows Server 2003 Standard R2 was all the budget spent....