Microsoft - Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to use Microsoft Software?
Are students eligible to use Microsoft Software?
How do I purchase Microsoft EES Agreements or Microsoft software not covered under other agreements?
How do I start using my Microsoft Software?
How do I determine the number of 2-core licenses that I need for SQL Server Licensing?
How do I figure out the number of cores I need to purchase for Windows Server?
How do I obtain Microsoft Support?
Who is eligible to use Microsoft Software?
University of Pennsylvania departments requiring software that is not available through the University's Microsoft 365 Agreement are able to purchase Microsoft EES agreements and other software such as Visio, Project and Windows OS.
Are students eligible to use Microsoft Software?
Students are eligible for free Microsoft Office 365 during their tenure at the University of Pennsylvania. Information about how to download and install Microsoft Office 365 can be found on Penn Campus Express at campusexpress.upenn.edu.
How do I purchase Microsoft EES Agreements or Microsoft software not covered under other agreements?
Microsoft EES Agreements are processed by the Office of Software Licensing. These are three-year subscriptions, renewed annually, and arranged for upon request by OSL throughout the year. For assistance with EES agreements and other Microsoft software not available through Microsoft 365 such as Visio, Project, and Windows OS please contact the Office of Software Licensing at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 215-573-3587.
How do I start using my Microsoft Software?
Once your order is processed, you will be given access to your software via the Microsoft Volume Licensing Site for Penn, where you can download and manage your software. Departments who purchase Visio, Project, and Windows 10 licenses receive fulfillment information from OSL.
How do I determine the number of 2-core licenses that I need for SQL Server Licensing?
Please see the Microsoft SQL Server 2019 page on Microsoft's website. Scroll down on the page for the link.
How do I figure out the number of cores I need to purchase for Windows Server?
The licensing of Windows Server 2016 Standard and Datacenter editions will shift to be based on physical cores from the prior licensing model based on processors. Core based licensing provides a more consistent licensing metric regardless of where the solution is deployed on-premises or in a cloud. The Windows Server 2016 licensing model for Standard and Datacenter will be Cores + CAL.
To license a physical server, all physical cores must be licensed in the server. A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor in the server and a minimum of 16 cores is required to be licensed for servers with one processor. For more information, please refer to the Windows Server 2019 Licensing Datasheet on Microsoft's website.
How do I obtain Microsoft Support?
The University has a strong user community of support staff to assist with Microsoft troubleshooting, as well as resources internal to Microsoft to help with on campus initiatives.