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Licensing and pricing updates for on-premises server products coming July 2025

JeremyCarlson's avatar
JeremyCarlson
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Apr 03, 2025
*Update – June 2025: The price increases for the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite will now take effect on August 1, 2025, instead of July 1, as originally announced. Standalone server produc...
Updated Jun 11, 2025
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heasmc's avatar
heasmc
Copper Contributor
Apr 09, 2025

Hi Jeremy. 
How does this affect smtp relay or does it not? We can’t get an answer from our suppliers. 

Thank you 

 

Chris 

  • JeremyCarlson's avatar
    JeremyCarlson
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Jul 01, 2025

    Both SMTP relay or Edge role on premises would require SA and server license. "Management only" server requires SA, but the server license is free.

  • Nino_Bilic's avatar
    Nino_Bilic
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Apr 09, 2025

    Hi Chris - can you provide some context?

    Usually, when I think of SMTP relay, I think of two situations:

    • Organizations who have mailboxes in Exchange Online already, so they do not need on-premises Exchange for mailboxes but want it for SMTP relay scenarios (devices etc.) In this case, would all users not be already licensed by cloud licenses, and if so - if they have E3/E5 then you are covered for server licenses on premises?
    • Organizations who still have mailboxes on premises and SMTP relay is one of things their Exchange servers need to do (but there are other reasons why they keep Exchange on-premises). In that case, indeed, Exchange servers used for SMTP relay would need to be licensed just as servers hosting mailboxes on premises need to be licensed?

    In other words - the "SMTP relay Exchange Server" is not something one would install without either mailboxes in Exchange Online or on-premises, right?

    • ChrisSIT's avatar
      ChrisSIT
      Copper Contributor
      Jun 27, 2025

      We have all users migrated to Exchange Online with E3/E5 license. We only use on-prem Exch 2016 for mailbox management and mail relay for legacy systems. Previous license model was free via Hybrid Wizard license. Do we need to now purchase Exchange SE licenses or Exchange 2019 licenses with SA or will the free via Hybrid Wizard license cover this situation?

    • FoX5's avatar
      FoX5
      Copper Contributor
      Jun 13, 2025

      What if you use the Exchange Server SE only as SMTP Relay without Mailboxes on it for Applications and Services witch only support Anonymus Authentication or Service Accounts to Send e-mails? The Service Accounts have no mailboxes.

      • JeremyCarlson's avatar
        JeremyCarlson
        Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
        Jul 01, 2025

        All active Exchange Server licenses would be affected by this increase.

    • DezsoFater's avatar
      DezsoFater
      Copper Contributor
      Jun 04, 2025

      Hi Nino,

      a 3rd scenario: 
      legacy applications/UPSs/printers/other appliances that only support anonymous SMTP or basicAuthSMTP that your corporate kindly will stop too at the end of September this year?
      Many of these don't seem to support the offered replacement properly so it's anonymous relay time for them again.

      Would we still be able to relay those emails via a hybrid licensed ExchangeSE and an inbound connector in ExchangeOnline?