How can the customer get Windows Server 2016 license?

[ishin]

Hi,

One of my customer purchased Cisco OEM Windows Server 2019 License with his UCS, but he'd like to install  Windows Server 2016 on it. Microsoft Windows License Term mentions the customer can downgrade it.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/UseTerms/OEM/WindowsServer2019/DatacenterAndStandard/Useterms_OEM_WindowsServer2019_DatacenterAndStandard_English.htm

The Cisco Datacenter PSS said  Cisco doesn't provide the Windows Media kit so my customer will get it by any way though, how can he get the downgrade license, i.e. Windows Server 2016 license, from Cisco? (the cisco DC PSS doesn't know how..)

Regards,

Shin

[ishin · Accepted solution]

I got a feedback from a Cisco SE on this issue.

"Downgrade" for Windows Server doesn't mean the license for a version can use the lower version of Windows Server. For example, if I purchase a Windows Server 2019 license key, I can't use it to downgrade or install Windows Server 2016 nor Cisco doesn't generate the lower version license key. "Downgrade" for Windows Server means that we have to have both the license key for original AND downgraded version of Windows Server. So for the above case, I have to have the license key also for Windows Server 2016.

For "Downgrade" right for VMware means different. If I purchase a license key for VMware vSphere7, I can generate the license key of the lower version (e.g. vSphere6.7) using it on "My VMware" site.