Note
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Access to this page requires authorization. You can try changing directories.
Appropriate roles: Admin agent
As a CSP, you can sell on-premises software through Partner Center in addition to Open, EA, and other programs. On-premises software in CSP supports a smooth transition to the cloud by introducing on-premises software in a cloud-focused program. And selling on-premises software brings you to every purchase scenario as you provide a single platform to transact all Microsoft products.
This business model makes it easy to procure, manage, and price on-premises software for your customers, allowing you to focus on winning business with an expanded portfolio of IT management value-added solutions. While ensuring the best overall customer value with on-premises software licensing options, we also made the business model as partner-friendly as possible. Straightforward licensing of on-premises software in CSP means cost predictability and a streamlined sales process for you.
Buy software subscriptions on behalf of customers
To purchase software subscriptions on behalf of a customer, use the following steps:
Sign in to Partner Center and select Customers.
Select a customer from the list.
From the customer's detail page, select New subscription, and then follow the on-screen instructions to create and pay for your order.
Note
For more information, see this guide to ordering and fulfillment through Partner Center.
Activate and manage software subscriptions
After you purchase a software subscription, you or your customer need to download it. (You can also cancel an order within seven days and receive a pro-rated credit.)
Customers use the Microsoft 365 Admin Center to see product keys and download information. The Global admin role is required.
Partners use Partner Center to see product keys and download information. The Admin agent role is required to get a link to keys and downloads.
To download software and get software keys and links, use the following steps:
Sign in to Partner Center and select Customers.
Select a customer from the list.
From your customer's detail page, select Software. A list of all the software you purchased on behalf of the customer appears.
Select the software for which you want to download the key and then select Generate keys and downloads.
Select the product Version, Language, and Bit, and then select Get keys and downloads. By default the key is for 64-bit OS version. To download 32-bit version, see how do I download the 32-bit version.
Select Download to download the software bits.
Select Copy Link if you want to send the customer a link to the bits download.
How do I download the 32-bit version of software?
The M365 Admin Portal or Partner Center defaults to offering the key of the 64-bit OS version, which is now the recommended architecture for most users due to better performance and support for large memory usage.
However, some applications or add-ins may require 32-bit version, so the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) gives you the option to select either version. So even though the portals don't expose the 32-bit option, you can still deploy 32-bit using ODT.
Remote Desktop Services license key activation
Remote Desktop Services (RDS) are ordered like any other software subscription. However, the license key activation is different hence this section.
- Remote Desktop Service (RDS) CALs require Windows Server 2016 or above. Server 2016 CALs work on both a Windows Server 2016 and 2019 install but Server 2019 CALs only work on a Windows Server 2019 install. Once installed the RDS license server must be activated against Clearing House. Once activated follow these steps to install the 5x5 RDS CAL.
- Once a 5x5 code is used, it can't be used again on any other license server including the same license server.
Tip
Clearing House is the RDS Licenses activation site hosted at Microsoft Clearinghouse outbound over TCP port 443.
Important
Software keys are valuable and highly sought-after intellectual property, so it's important to understand the risks associated with copying links and downloading software.
Note
In CSP, we fulfill downgrade rights to the previous versions. Perpetual product licensing rights allow us to downlevel the product as per n-1 or n-2 policy for most of the products.
Software download links for perpetual software and software subscription purchases through Partner Center have an expiration date of five days after the initial download.
Move a customer's on-premises license from VL to CSP with no downtime
Even though key management service (KMS) keys aren't available in CSP, you can still move your customer's on-premises licenses from volume licensing (VL) to CSP and prevent downtime caused by a purchasing channel switch.
KMS distributes licenses to clients, and those licenses usually remain active for 180 days before a device tries to renew the activation. That means a device is activated and runs for some time before any issues arise.
If a customer deploys a new multiple activation key (MAK) during the 180 day period, either manually or with a script (using
slmgr.vbs), there's no downtime.If the customer doesn't deploy the new MAK within 180 days and then tries to renew the license later, some device features might not work until the customer reactivates it.
For more information, see Activate clients running Windows 10 (Windows 10) - Windows Deployment.
For assistance with this type of deployment, you can submit a Technical Presales and Deployment services request.
Cancel a purchase
To learn how to cancel a purchase, see Canceling a software subscription. Once the cancellation is complete, the software key is revoked.