If you're going to spend the money just get volume licensed Server 2008 with Software Assurance, you'll get 2003 R2 via downgrade rights and the ability to go with 2008 (or 2008 R2, provided it's out within 2 years) somewhere down the line.
As for getting pricing, I've had horrible luck getting non-commercial VL pricing from CDW. You need to track down non-profit pricing with a reseller who specializes in such things. It's very very cheap - I think $100 per server license and $5 or less per CAL, but don't quote me on that. I've had some success with Softchoice on that front. You might also want to consider contacting TechSoup (http://www.techsoup.org), if you qualify (as a 501c3 the ASPCA should) you can get whatever you need donated with a fairly small administrative fee. [email protected] wrote: > > Greetings! > > I have a Win2003 "Native" AD domain. I have been asked to see about > upgrading this to R2... > > 1. I do not have R2 media appropriate for this > > 2. I am having difficulties determining if there is a price for this > upgrade (Win2003 "Standard" to Win2003 R2). > > From what I've read, there is no functional difference between the OS > other than the availablility of some tools. However, as two locations > are about to be moved to a brand-new domain, uniformity is desired. > > As to #1 above, I have read that if one has the same "track" media, one > could use the R2 disk. I don't have that. I have an R2 from a Dell > OEM, but it appears I'd need to re-install the OS on my current machines > to be able to use this disk. I have another R2, but it is from Win2003 > Enterprise. The R2 setup refuses to run on the non-Enterprise systems. > > As to #2, I'm looking at CDW's non-profit pages. There, I'm seeing a > copy of Win2003 R2 (full package, not just an upgrade to R2), and it's > $735. > > Any advise, other than to pay the $735 each per DC, and then re-build > them? (They are all "Open License" versions, which require -according > to MS- an "Open License" R2 disk to upgrade.) -- Phil Brutsche [email protected] ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
