windows 2003 Server Ghost - licensing issue

[bigb0ss]

Hi,

I have got a windows 2003 server standard edition running on dell power edge series. The issue is will i be able to ghost the machine and install it on a different machine with of similar hardware spec. What would happen to the licensing. will the server will work fine as its does now on the new hardware or would i have to call microsoft for a new license as the hardware ids are different on the new machine. As both servers are going to be on a different location server name conflicts wouldnt be an issue. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Mohan

[cluberti]

It depends - if you install W2K3 on a machine (regardless of whether it's a clean install or an image from another box), you need to have a license to run it there. Now, if you are imaging this to new hardware to retire the old, then the license can move with the install as long as the machine you imaged is no longer in use - unless the version of Windows on that old machine is an OEM copy that came with the server. In that case, the license is indeed tied to the hardware, meaning you would need to purchase an additional license for the new server regardless.

So, to recap:

1. If you plan on having both servers running at the same time, you need a license for server #2 from Microsoft.

2. If the license for Server 2003 is an OEM license (came with the server from the vendor, or was purchased separately as an OEM license from a retailer), then you need a new license for server #2 from Microsoft regardless of whether or not you are continuing use of the old server - OEM licenses become tied to the hardware they are on once installed for the lifetime of the license. You cannot move an OEM license, period.

3. If you are moving the install to server #2 and decomissioning the old server, and the license for Server 2003 was NOT an OEM license (you purchased it separately from the hardware and it is a volume or retail license), then you can move the license to the new server and bring down the old.

[bigb0ss]

It depends - if you install W2K3 on a machine (regardless of whether it's a clean install or an image from another box), you need to have a license to run it there. Now, if you are imaging this to new hardware to retire the old, then the license can move with the install as long as the machine you imaged is no longer in use - unless the version of Windows on that old machine is an OEM copy that came with the server. In that case, the license is indeed tied to the hardware, meaning you would need to purchase an additional license for the new server regardless.

So, to recap:

1. If you plan on having both servers running at the same time, you need a license for server #2 from Microsoft.

2. If the license for Server 2003 is an OEM license (came with the server from the vendor, or was purchased separately as an OEM license from a retailer), then you need a new license for server #2 from Microsoft regardless of whether or not you are continuing use of the old server - OEM licenses become tied to the hardware they are on once installed for the lifetime of the license. You cannot move an OEM license, period.

3. If you are moving the install to server #2 and decomissioning the old server, and the license for Server 2003 was NOT an OEM license (you purchased it separately from the hardware and it is a volume or retail license), then you can move the license to the new server and bring down the old.

Thank you for the reply!.

I have got it clear with the licensing part. What i want to know is will i be able to run the new system as a windows servers

i do not care about the windows update as its going to be used in a closed environment.

will the new system would be up and running or it would give me a blue screen error ?

The hardware specifications for the old server and the new server is same.

Thanks again.

Mohan.

[cluberti]

will the new system would be up and running or it would give me a blue screen error ?

The hardware specifications for the old server and the new server is same.

If the hardware specs are the same (same brand processor, Intel or AMD; same boot disk controller, etc), then it should boot up fine. However, unless you run a tool to change the SID of the ghosted machine, you will have issues on the network with two machines with the same SID.

[bigb0ss]

will the new system would be up and running or it would give me a blue screen error ?

The hardware specifications for the old server and the new server is same.

If the hardware specs are the same (same brand processor, Intel or AMD; same boot disk controller, etc), then it should boot up fine. However, unless you run a tool to change the SID of the ghosted machine, you will have issues on the network with two machines with the same SID.

Thank you very much.

These systems are going to be geographically isolated so i suppose i would not have that issue.

And both wouldnot communicate each other.

Anyways Thank you for your support, I really appreciate it.

cheers!

Mohan.