System Center Datacenter is a set of server management licenses (MLs) and software for managing applications and services across physical, virtual, and cloud information technology (IT) infrastructures. The Datacenter edition is designed for managing heavily virtualized System Center environments.

This offer provides 16 core licenses for a System Center Datacenter server ML. System Center server MLs require a minimum of 8 core licenses for each physical processor on a managed server and a minimum of 16 core licenses for each managed server. The Datacenter edition allows management of an unlimited number of operating system environments (OSEs) on managed servers when all cores on the servers are licensed. The right to run management server software for System Center components is included with the ML. For additional information about the available editions of System Center and its licensing requirements, see TechSoup's Guide to System Center Products and Licensing.

Which Versions of This Software Are Available?

You can choose to download the current version or the previous version of this software. You can find out which version is the current one on the Current Versions of Microsoft Products page. In addition, you can download the software in any language that's available.

Benefits for Organisations

If you have a dedicated IT staff with datacenter administration experience, your organisation can use System Center to

• Pool shared resources into a "private cloud" to provide users with IT as a Service that they can self-allocate through a portal.
• Manage hybrid cloud environments that combine public and private cloud applications and services from a centralized interface.
• Standardize and automate datacenter processes to reduce costs and improve service reliability.

Licensed Components

When all cores on the managed server are licensed, this ML suite licenses servers to be managed by these System Center components.

• Configuration Manager: provides software deployment, distribution, update management, and configuration monitoring throughout an IT infrastructure
• Data Protection Manager: enables disk-based data protection and recovery for file and application servers as well as client computers
• Endpoint Protection: works with Configuration Manager to provide a single infrastructure for client management and security, including malware detection
• Operations Manager: monitors the health of IT services across datacenter and cloud infrastructures
• Orchestrator: a workflow management tool for automating the creation, monitoring, and deployment of IT resources
• Service Manager: an integrated platform for automating and adapting your organisation's IT service management best practices
• Virtual Machine Manager: enables administration and management of Microsoft and VMware virtual machine guests and virtual machine hosts

Server Software

The right to run System Center management server software is included with the MLs. If you request this product, you can obtain management server software for all of the System Center components listed above. The software includes a runtime version of SQL Server Technology (SQL Server Standard Edition) to support System Center. No additional licenses are needed for management servers or SQL Server technology.

Software Assurance

Under the Software Assurance programme, you have the right to install any new release of products covered in the agreement during the term of your coverage.

Obtaining This Product

To receive discounted Microsoft products with Software Assurance, you'll need to accept and electronically sign a Volume Licensing Agreement. After you place your request, you'll receive an email from Microsoft eAgreements with a link to the Volume Licensing Agreement. Your request won't be approved until you've signed the agreement.

When your request has been approved, Connecting Up or TechSoup New Zealand will send a message to your organisation email address with further instructions.

If you need help obtaining this product, find out how to download it.