... windows server 2016 by a nose!

Well it would seem the big change is the move to (physical) core based licensing for Windows Server 2016, now offered as just two major editions - Standard or Datacentre - with an 8 core license minimum per processor and 16 core license minimum per server (sold in 2-core packs), subject to the accompanying User or Device CALs of course.

What does it all mean? Well the price for 16 core licenses for Standard or Datacentre is being touted as the same as the current pricing for one 2-processor 2012 R2 Standard or Datacentre, but an additional 2-cores will increase the price of server licensing by 25%.

Properly converting your processor licenses to cores is an imperative - if you don't get the numbers right (particularly with VM's running on the Standard edition) you could face some significant costs down the track due to the 2 VM maximum (ie. all physical cores must be licensed again for any VM increment above each 2 VM maximum).

The good news - as with the SQL Server conversion if your SA is current the license grant will cover no less than you have now (ie. all physical cores), so get counting and make sure you have the right artefacts to validate your entitlement at renewal time!