Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Standard Downgrade to former Enterprise Editions

[LuckyLu]

Hi community, we have an issue to optimize our Windows Server 2016 Standard license consumption, because the relevant setting for Downgrade Right is missing (from Standard Edition to former Enteprise Editions). Microsoft writes in their licensing guide for Windows Server 2016 Standard: "If the customer has Windows Server 2016 Datacenter edition, they have the right to downgrade software bits to any prior version or lower edition. If the customer has Windows Server 2016 Standard edition, they have the right to downgrade the software to use any prior version of Enterprise, Standard, or Essentials editions." (P.27) http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/4/E64F72BF-55E9-4D85-9EFE-39605D7CE272/WindowsServer2016-Licensing-Guide.pdf Is this issue already known or new? Kind Regards Marcel

[nrousseau1 · Accepted solution]

Hi Marcel, This is indeed an unpractical thing with Windows Server: Enterprise Edition (that was given up in 2008 R2 if I remember well) is covered by Standard Edition (supposed to be a lower edition). The only way you can manage this is to add manually in the "Applications" tab all versions of Windows Server Enterprise in the top list (the bottom list will not evolve because downgrade rights through editions will not apply). Thus, Windows Server 2016 Standard will be the "Current Software Title" of the Licenses, downgrade rights will bring lower editions (Essentials, if you decide to do so) and versions... and the 4 other versions of Windows Server Enterprise Edition (2003, 2008, 2008 R2) will also be covered because you added them manually. Then, be careful with FNMS sometimes being a little bit permissive in the downgrade across editions (down to free or very cheap editions ... with Windows Server Workgroup Edition consuming the Windows Server DataCenter edition for instance!).

[LuckyLu]

Thank you for your reply and advice to get the right consumption. We will try it.