Upgrade to Server 2008 with 2012 license?

[mkirros]

Our nonprofit has a Server 2003 based network running AD, with about 50 workstations running WinXP. We'll finally be adding Win7 workstations, so I need to upgade one of the servers so I can administer Group Policy on the new workstations. Our servers are all 32-bit, so they won't run Server 2012 or Server 2008R2, but my undertanding is that there's a 32-bit version of Server 2008. We can afford a new server license, but not a new server.

I have the following questions:
If I get a license for Server 2012, can I then install Server 2008 instead?
Will Server 2003 and Server 2008 machines coexist happily on the same network?
Will I be able to administer Group Policy on the remaining XP workstations from Server 2008, or would that have to be done from Server 2003?

If anyone knows of a good, concise resource on the differences in Group Policy between Server 2008 and Server 2003, that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[w33mhz]

The anwser to all 3 of your questions is YES. All windows os CALs are backwards compatible. I have LOTS of servers ranging from Win2K to Windows 2012 they coexist just fine. There are definitly some quirks with some of the OSs themselves but you shouldn't have any issues running them. Now if you are talking about Active Directory yes they can coexist as domain controllers but you will be stuck at the lowest comon domain functionality level so if you have a 2003 DC and a 2008 R2 DC your domain functionality will be 2003. You will be able to administer GPOs to the XP workstations, you will have to be sure and read the notes on the settings some setting require a certain OS version or higher i.e. Requires Vista, Windows 2008 or higher. There is an update that you can apply to the XP workstations so that they can process the newer version of group policies. I don't remember if it is a recommended update or if it was an optional, I am pretty sure its a recommended.

Windows Haiku:

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

 

[strongm]

> All windows os CALs are backwards compatible

That's not true

 

[jkupski]

Can you offer an example of a CAL without downgrade rights? Just curious.

 

[w33mhz]

Example of a CAL that is not backwards compatible is an OEM license. If you bought a Dell PowerEdge 2650 with Windows 2003 from Dell it is ONLY good for Windows 2003 for that hardware.

Windows Haiku:

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

 

[mkirros]

I believe that's correct, and good information to have. Not a problem in this case, we'll be purchasing new CALs.

 

[jkupski]

While it's "correct" in the sense that it's true that OEM licenses are tied to hardware (at least in the US--my understanding is that in Europe, this is actually not the case), it has nothing at all to do with downgrade rights of CALs (or the OS itself, for that matter). In fact, that OEM license (which probably came with 5 CALs) would have allowed you to run Windows 2003, Windows 2000 or Windows NT4, and the CALs would have allowed your users or devices to connect to that OS.

 

[w33mhz]

While it's "correct" in the sense that it's true that OEM licenses are tied to hardware (at least in the US--my understanding is that in Europe, this is actually not the case), it has nothing at all to do with downgrade rights of CALs (or the OS itself, for that matter). In fact, that OEM license (which probably came with 5 CALs) would have allowed you to run Windows 2003, Windows 2000 or Windows NT4, and the CALs would have allowed your users or devices to connect to that OS.

This maybe true in EU , I know that there are some variance in software law in the EU, but I have no specific knowledge of those. I am fairly confident that U.S. OEM CALs are not backwards compatible or transferable, US based was my assumption, I appologize if that is not the case.

Windows Haiku:

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

 

[w33mhz]

OK, update. Looks like I stand corrected on the OEM licensing.

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=hYex4wUGLbF

http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/lic..._to_do_downgrade_rights.aspx#fbid=hYex4wUGLbF

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...=OXDJtYus9cVqbQov-YKUHg&bvm=bv.49784469,d.aWM

Windows Haiku:

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

 

[strongm]

You cannot downgrade to a higher edition of an earlier product.

So you cannot downgrade from Windows Server 2008 Standard to Windows Server 2003 Enterprise. Windows Server 2008 Webserver can only be downgraded to Windows Server 2003 web edition. And you can't downgrade Windows Server 2008 Foundation to anything.