{"product_id":"microsoft-windows-server-2008-r2-enterprise-retail-1-pc","title":"Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Retail [1 PC]","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWindows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise: The Mid-Tier Edition for Mission-Critical Workloads\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2008-r2-enterprise-retail-1-pc\"\u003eMicrosoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise\u003c\/a\u003e is the mid-tier edition of the 2008 R2 server platform, designed for organizations that need Failover Clustering, larger memory and processor ceilings, and more Hyper-V rights than Standard offers. It sits between Standard and Datacenter in both feature set and licensing model: Enterprise is sold as a single license per server under the Server + CAL model, with the right to run up to four virtual instances of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2012-datacenter-retail-5-pc\"\u003eWindows Server 2012 Datacenter\u003c\/a\u003e on the licensed host. Your key is delivered to your account dashboard within seconds of payment clearing, ready to paste into the activation dialog on a clean or upgraded install. If the key fails to activate for any reason within 7 days, you get a one-to-one replacement key or a full refund — your choice, no questions asked. Activate on a clean install or upgrade in place, and bring your datacenter services online within minutes. 🖥️⚙️\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is Included and How Activation Works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen your order is confirmed, you receive a 25-character \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2008-standard-retail-1-pc\"\u003eWindows Server 2008 Standard\u003c\/a\u003e R2 Enterprise product key delivered to your account dashboard and your order email. The key is a genuine, unused Microsoft activation key for the Enterprise edition, and it is licensed under the Server + CAL model. One Enterprise license is required for the server, and a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2012-essentials-retail-2-pc\"\u003eWindows Server 2012 Essentials\u003c\/a\u003e CAL is required for each user or device that accesses the server. The license is perpetual: it is valid for the lifetime of the server hardware, and you can reinstall and reactivate the same hardware after a clean rebuild without losing the license.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe standard activation flow takes about ten minutes on a server with internet access:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstall \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2008-r2-datacenter-retail-1-pc\"\u003eWindows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter\u003c\/a\u003e R2 Enterprise from official Microsoft media or a clean ISO.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSign in to the server with administrator rights.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen the \u003cstrong\u003eSystem Properties\u003c\/strong\u003e panel and choose \u003cstrong\u003eChange product key\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnter the 25-character key from your order email and confirm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWait for the activation server to confirm the license, then configure server roles and features as required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor air-gapped servers, activation can be completed by phone through the Microsoft Activation Center. Enterprise licenses are independent of the number of processors or cores in the server; the same key activates the operating system on any compliant server. Downgrading to an earlier \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2-datacenter-retail-5-pc\"\u003eWindows Server\u003c\/a\u003e release is not included with this retail key.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features and Capabilities\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUp to four Hyper-V virtual machines per license.\u003c\/strong\u003e Run one \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2-essentials-retail-5-pc\"\u003eWindows Server 2012 R2 Essentials\u003c\/a\u003e instance in the physical OSE plus up to four instances in virtual OSEs. Additional Enterprise licenses can be assigned to the same host to expand the number of virtual machines; each additional license adds up to four more virtual instances.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHyper-V 2.0 with Live Migration.\u003c\/strong\u003e Move running virtual machines between clustered hosts without service interruption, with Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) for concurrent multi-node access to the same LUN. Live Migration was a headline feature of the 2008 R2 release.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e16-node Failover Clustering.\u003c\/strong\u003e Build a 16-node failover cluster with cross-file replication (DFS-R) and Fault Tolerant Memory Sync. Enterprise is the lowest 2008 R2 edition to support full failover clustering, which is the typical baseline for line-of-business application high availability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHot Add Memory.\u003c\/strong\u003e Add physical memory to the server while the operating system is running on supported server hardware. This is a high-availability feature that simplifies planned capacity upgrades.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDirectAccess.\u003c\/strong\u003e Give remote users a secure, always-on connection to the corporate network without a traditional VPN. DirectAccess requires Windows 7 Enterprise clients and is the modern alternative to VPN for managed remote devices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBranchCache.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cache frequently accessed files and web content on branch office clients and a local BranchCache-enabled server to reduce wide-area-network bandwidth. BranchCache requires Windows 7 Enterprise clients.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eActive Directory feature set.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Active Directory Domain Services, Active Directory Certificate Services, and Active Directory Federation Services, with no role limitations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNetwork Policy and Access Services.\u003c\/strong\u003e Unlimited RRAS connections, unlimited IAS connections, and unlimited RDS Gateway connections. Enterprise is the right edition for large remote access and RADIUS deployments that do not need the Datacenter license.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLarge-system scale.\u003c\/strong\u003e Up to 8 physical processors and 2 TB of physical memory per server, which makes Enterprise the right edition for line-of-business database and messaging hosts that need more headroom than Standard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eServer + CAL licensing.\u003c\/strong\u003e One Enterprise license per server, regardless of processor or core count, plus a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2012-r2-standard-retail-5-pc\"\u003eWindows Server 2012 R2 Standard\u003c\/a\u003e CAL for every user or device that accesses the server. CALs are sold separately in User or Device form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho This Edition Is For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2008-r2-rds-device-cal-20-cal\"\u003eServer 2008 R2 RDS Device CAL\u003c\/a\u003e R2 Enterprise is the right edition for organizations that need clustering, more memory, and more virtualization rights than Standard offers, but that do not need the unlimited virtualization rights of Datacenter. The personas below describe the most common buyers of the Enterprise license.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMid-size virtualization hosts.\u003c\/strong\u003e A server that hosts up to four virtual machines is the typical use case for Enterprise. The four-virtual-instance right is the typical amount of consolidation for a mid-size organization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLine-of-business application servers.\u003c\/strong\u003e SQL Server, Exchange Server, and other line-of-business applications that need Failover Clustering, larger memory, and the cross-file replication that Enterprise supports are the right workloads for this edition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBranch-office and remote-access infrastructure.\u003c\/strong\u003e DirectAccess, BranchCache, and the unlimited Network Policy and Access Services connections make Enterprise the right edition for the head-end servers of mid-size remote access and branch-office deployments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrganizations upgrading from Standard.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you have outgrown the one-virtual-instance limit of Standard, the four-virtual-instance right of Enterprise is the natural next step before considering Datacenter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSystem Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2008-r2-rds-user-cal-20-cal\"\u003eServer 2008 R2 RDS User CAL\u003c\/a\u003e R2 is a 64-bit-only release. The minimum hardware baseline is modest for a server operating system of this era, but production deployments should follow Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 R2 certification program for guaranteed compatibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eComponent\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMinimum\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRecommended\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProcessor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.4 GHz 64-bit (x64)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMulti-core 64-bit server CPU at 2 GHz or higher\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhysical processors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 sockets for typical Enterprise hosts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRAM\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e512 MB minimum; 2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 GB or more for production hosts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStorage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e32 GB system partition\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRAID-protected array with 100 GB or more free\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNetwork\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGigabit Ethernet adapter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMultiple Gigabit Ethernet adapters or 10 GbE for cluster nodes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOptical drive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDVD-ROM (if installing from physical media)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNetwork boot is also supported\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum supported scale\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e32-bit not supported\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 2 TB RAM and 8 physical processors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMicrosoft's Windows Server Catalog is the authoritative list of hardware certified for Windows Server 2008 R2. For production Enterprise deployments, certified server hardware from major OEMs is strongly recommended; non-certified hardware may not receive driver updates and may not support all of the high-availability features such as Hot Add Memory and Live Migration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eActivation and Licensing Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise digital license is a perpetual, one-server license tied to the physical server hardware on which it is first activated. A few details worth knowing up front:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eServer + CAL model.\u003c\/strong\u003e One Enterprise license per server, regardless of processor or core count. A two-socket server requires only one Enterprise license.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCALs are required for users and devices.\u003c\/strong\u003e Every user or device that accesses the server requires a Windows Server CAL. CALs are sold separately in User or Device form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUp to four virtual instances per host.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Enterprise license entitles the host to run one physical instance and up to four virtual instances of Windows Server. Additional Enterprise licenses can be assigned to the same host to expand the number of virtual instances.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVolume Licensing downgrade rights are not included.\u003c\/strong\u003e This retail key activates the 2008 R2 edition only. For downgrade rights to earlier Windows Server releases, a Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement is the right path.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReinstalls are supported on the same hardware.\u003c\/strong\u003e Format the storage, replace failed disks, or rebuild the server from scratch: reactivate using the same product key on the same hardware. The activation server re-recognizes the entitlement.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMicrosoft has ended mainstream support for Windows Server 2008 R2.\u003c\/strong\u003e Extended support ended in January 2020. The operating system remains functional but no longer receives security updates; this is a key consideration for any long-running deployment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGet Started With Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuying a Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise digital license is the simplest way to put a fully activated, mid-tier server platform on a physical server. Once the order is confirmed, the key is in your inbox, the activation steps are above, and the server is ready to host Failover Clustering and Hyper-V workloads in one short session. If you have any questions about whether Enterprise is the right edition for your hardware, your workload, or your licensing model, our support team is on hand before and after the purchase.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMicrosoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Alternatives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThree credible alternatives cover most server workloads depending on your requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLinux Server (Ubuntu LTS or RHEL)\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFree or low-cost, runs most modern web, container, and database workloads, and is widely supported by cloud providers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWindows Server on Azure \/ AWS \/ GCP\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eManaged cloud versions of Windows Server with pay-as-you-go licensing. Removes the need for an on-premises licence key.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWindows Server LTSC container images\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMicrosoft-published container images for development and CI\/CD scenarios. Free for development but require a licence for production use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to choose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stay on Windows Server if you run Active Directory, SQL Server, Exchange, or .NET Framework line-of-business apps. Move to Linux server for new web and container workloads. Move to cloud-managed Windows Server to remove licence management overhead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWhat is the difference between Enterprise and Standard?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStandard is licensed under the Server + CAL model and entitles the host to one physical instance and one virtual instance of Windows Server, with a 4-socket processor ceiling and a 32 GB memory ceiling. Enterprise is also Server + CAL and entitles the host to one physical and up to four virtual instances, with Failover Clustering, Fault Tolerant Memory Sync, Hot Add Memory, an 8-socket processor ceiling, and a 2 TB memory ceiling. Datacenter, by contrast, is licensed under the Processor + CAL model and entitles the host to one physical and an unlimited number of virtual instances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow many Enterprise licenses do I need for a two-processor server?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnterprise is licensed per server, not per processor. A two-socket server requires one Enterprise license. If you want more than four virtual instances on the same host, additional Enterprise licenses are required, with each additional license adding up to four more virtual instances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eDo I need a CAL for every user that opens a file on the server?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. A Windows Server CAL is required for every user or device that accesses server services such as file services, print services, or Active Directory authentication. The user-or-device choice is yours: User CALs are the more cost-effective model when one user connects from many devices; Device CALs are the more cost-effective model when many users share a small number of devices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan I run Linux virtual machines on the same Enterprise host?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 supports Linux guest operating systems, including SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Ubuntu. Linux virtual machines on Hyper-V do not require a Windows Server license for the guest, but the host still needs a Windows Server Enterprise license for the up-to-four virtual instance right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eDoes this include SQL Server or Exchange Server?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise is the server operating system only. SQL Server, Exchange Server, and other Microsoft server products are sold and licensed separately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow long does delivery take?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe product key is delivered to your account dashboard and order confirmation email immediately after payment is confirmed, typically within seconds. The installation and activation flow on the target server takes about ten minutes on a modern server with a broadband connection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n","brand":"Microsoft","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59850920951889,"sku":"MS-129-MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-SERVER-2008-R2-ENTERPR","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/0191\/6241\/files\/microsoft-windows-server-2008-r2-enterprise-retail-1-pc.webp?v=1784725644","url":"https:\/\/dotkeys.net\/products\/microsoft-windows-server-2008-r2-enterprise-retail-1-pc","provider":"DotKeys","version":"1.0","type":"link"}