Q: I installed System Center 2012 without a product key and it's running in evaluation mode--how do I switch to retail mode?

A:System Center 2012 is one product, which means a single product key is required to switch all of the components-- Configuration Manager (SCCM), OperationsManager, Data Protection Manager (DPM), Orchestrator, Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), Service Manager, and AppController--from evaluation to retail mode.

Ifyou enter a product key during installation, then the installation is put in retail mode by default, but if you didn't enter a product key, you will be inevaluation mode.

Most of the SC 2012 components allow a product key to be entered within the management console. See Help - About dialog (VMM and Orchestrator), or rerunthe setup routine to enter a product key (SCCM, AppController and DPM).

However, for Operations Manager, use Windows PowerShell:

After the reboot is complete, you can check your server is retail by using the command below:

PS C:> Get-SCOMManagementGroup | ft skuforlicense, version, timeofexpiration -a

Here's an example of typical output you'll receive:

SkuForLicense  Version   TimeOfExpiration
-------------          -------      ----------------
Retail 7.0.8560.0 12/31/9999 11:59:59 PM
 

Service Manager requires an uninstall and reinstallation if you didn't enter a product key during the installation, as there is no switch from evaluationto RTM.

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