A few years ago, we created a web site that would allow our hybrid customers to obtain what’s generally known as the “hybrid key”. This self-service site would validate your O365 tenant and after a f...
Updated Apr 21, 2022
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Hybrid Configuration Wizard and licensing of your on-premises server used for hybrid
I am late to this debate (or discussion) around whether it is good or bad that Microsoft has decided to stop the free Hybrid Key for Exchange 2019.
My opinion is that it is extremely ridiculous. I can't imagine what you (Exchange Team/Microsoft) stand to gain by coming up with such a harsh 180 turn like this - and I would like to know. Exchange 2019's purpose seems so limited in scope, yet every Exchange page on Microsoft Docs defaults to the version for Exchange 2019. On top of that, there's been this drive from the Exchange Team since forever now, for customers to stay current, or N-1 at worst. But now, for customers who you've successfully convinced to go all-in to your cloud business, the new message is: "Don't be up to date, stick with our older version (but still, keep it up to date). Or... be up to date, and pay up for being our most adaptable, and up-to-date customers, suckers 🤑".
So many customers, and partners will logically think they should be installing it (2019), and that they're doing the right thing by having the latest and greatest for their final remaining server....only to find out the bad news at some point in their journey, some further down the wrong path than others.
I just find this so aggravating, and ruthless, and careless..... If there were only a close competing product (which I realize there is not).