V20 Upgrade question

[JohnWoodCC]

I am still searching for an answer regarding the upgrade from Windows v18 to v20. We are currently running on Professional, and from what I have seen on the forums and what my 3cx Partner is saying to me, there are conflicts. Below is what I received from my reseller, who contacted their 3cx rep:

This is what 3CX corporate said (sorry it is not more definitive yet) :

We have not confirmed yet if we will provide a free upgrade to ENT for all Windows users. It is likely we will, but I am waiting on the confirmation. They cannot upgrade to v20 windows yet, but this should be ready by the final release of update 2. To be on the safe side, it is best to upgrade the license prior to renewing as there is no guarantee we will upgrade to ent for free.


The issue is not whether to upgrade our license to Enterprise; we understand that and will do that. The issue is trying to understand if we can save money now by not upgrading to Enterprise because 3cx will upgrade it for us during the installation. Then, at renewal, we will renew our license at the Enterprise rate. 3cx documentation and forums say one thing; the response I received from my rep says another.

If anyone, including any 3cx employee who is watching these threads, has more details on this, I would be grateful for any guidance in this matter. I would like to upgrade soon. If we need to upgrade our license to Enterprise first, then upgrade to v20, that is fine. But if we can upgrade to v20 and then just renew the license at renewal time at the Enterprise rate (which is July 2025), that is also fine.

 

[Alphabetic]

3CX will upgrade your license to ENT for the remainder of your term and you will then need to renew at ENT cost.

If you renew now, your renewal date will be today.

https://www.3cx.com/blog/releases/v20-final/

Currently V20 is available on Linux only: A Windows installer will come at a later stage and will require an enterprise edition. We’ll upgrade any PRO editions running Windows to Enterprise for the duration of the subscription. More information to follow.

This came from the main man.

 

[AWS2P]

3CX will upgrade your license to ENT for the remainder of your term and you will then need to renew at ENT cost.

Not the same sound from who you ask, 3CX French support said a V18 win key in PRO can be upgraded to V20 and will stay in PRO so not sure at all ENT will automatically be offered before the date of renew. Perhaps if lot of small customers are leaving 3CX due to the cost increase, may be 3CX will lose more than what they expect to earn after their price increase.

On same subject is there only Windows Pro keys concerned by the need to upgrade to ENT or also Debian keys as this is not clear too.

 

[Alphabetic]

If you want to run 3CX on Windows on v20 then you must have an ENT key thats pretty much the top and bottom of it.

 

[AWS2P]

Don't answer me what i didn't asked , actually my customers running a Windows PBX are in V18 PRO, I understood 3CX policy is to be now in ENT.
My point was just to say about the fog about what really change and when and is it only for Windows or the Debian Pro are also concerned?

 

[Alphabetic]

I think its more down to how much time R&D have to spend testing in Windows as they have much less control vs their ISO build.

 

[AWS2P]

French support let me know Windows PBXs use is 10% only, 90% is Debian.

 

[SteveITS]

A Windows installer will come at a later stage

Windows installer was released with update 2: https://www.3cx.com/blog/releases/v20-update-2/

@JohnWoodCC Per the u2 alpha blog post, "...in future releases of 3CX the Windows version will be tied to the enterprise edition of 3CX." I have seen at least one other person post your question but don't recall seeing a definitive answer. Per that comment it does sound like the Enterprise key requirement isn't active yet? I have not seen anyone post that they upgraded a Windows server and got locked out.

Option 2 is to install the Linux ISO in a Hyper-V VM, restore a backup, and not worry about the Enterprise license. It's the same web GUI anyway.

 

[JohnWoodCC]

3CX will upgrade your license to ENT for the remainder of your term and you will then need to renew at ENT cost.

If you renew now, your renewal date will be today.

https://www.3cx.com/blog/releases/v20-final/

Currently V20 is available on Linux only: A Windows installer will come at a later stage and will require an enterprise edition. We’ll upgrade any PRO editions running Windows to Enterprise for the duration of the subscription. More information to follow.

This came from the main man.

i did read the manual a while back that states the free upgrade to Enterprise for the duration, but i have not seen any further information come out about that. On the other hand, our 3cx partner tells me that the information he received is telling me to upgrade my license first, then do the upgrade to v20

So it sounds like there might be a little confusion within the people at 3cx. Some say it will upgrade our license to Enterprise for the duration, and other people say they do not know about upgrading licensees for Windows users. I would just like to know more of a definite answer because i really don't know which to believe at this time.

It would be nice to actually hear from a moderator\staff at 3cx respond to this thread with something more concrete\updated answer

 

[AWS2P]

Option 2 is to install the Linux ISO in a Hyper-V VM, restore a backup, and not worry about the Enterprise license. It's the same web GUI anyway.

For what it worth, this is not sure , have got 3Cx representative not being able to exclude Debian from same need to be ENT instead of PRO .

 

[Yellow_Flash]

The information I've got is that, license will be upgraded to ENT for the reminder of your subscription, for windows Installs.
But what I'm not sure is whether 3CX will allow a renewal of PRO license at this stage.

In the case of Debian, there is no such requirement. Debain Installs can run PRO license.

It is only the windows Installs that will need to have an ENT license to work.

 

[Summa College]

What I find strange is there is no mentioning of the underlying OS issue on the website.

The choice for which subscription/license you need is based on the feature list.
If you look at that and you find that you only need PRO.
Then afterwards you find out that there is this OS thing for V20.
And suddenly you have to get the ENT license.

It would be a good thing if 3CX would mention this in their feature list.

And even better, stop the OS discussion.
A system administrator does not do anything with the linux OS.
It is not a Linux installation like the Windows installation, it is just a virtual appliance.

The choice between linux vs windows would be Windows (because of better general understanding/more mainstream)
However, the choice between a Virtual Appliance vs Windows, the virtual appliance would be the better choice. (Because better tailored towards the application 3CX and less seperate maintenance of the OS)


For what I understand now.
If you want to upgrade your Windows V18 to V20, you need to upgrade to ENT.
Which is 'free' for the remainder of the current (PRO) license periode.
Renewal would then need to be the ENT license.


Although all of this does not make sense to me from customer view point, I guess it just is what is is.

As a customer, I should not be bothered by development money allocation inside 3CX.
Customers now need to tell their boss that they need more funds, not because need of the extra features, but because of 'wrong' OS. Which could be more accepted if this would be announced in front.

 

[bitn2]

I am not sure why its a problem to switch to linux? Its easy to go, its cheaper because you dont need a windows licence and its more easy to maintain because you dont need to do anything on OS level. And in your case, you dont need to switch to an enterprise licence.

 

[Summa College]

I am not sure why its a problem to switch to linux? Its easy to go, its cheaper because you dont need a windows licence and its more easy to maintain because you dont need to do anything on OS level. And in your case, you dont need to switch to an enterprise licence.

The current website uses the feature list to choose the right license.
It does not mention anything about OS.

3CX should stop advertising it as a Windows vs. Linux installation.
It should be better sold as a Windows self installed vs. a 3CX Virtual appliance.

It is now advertised as a Linux server installation.
Which in our case is not cheaper or easier to maintain (and less secure).
And thus then it would be better to run Windows above a Linux installation.

The 'linux' version of 3CX is not the same as the Windows version in the way how it is installeld and maintained.
You do not need to install and maintain a Linux distribution and install the 3CX software seperate.
It just is a virtual appliance, that happens to run on top of a linux OS.

So yes, with this knowledge now, the choice would have been the 'linux' version.

 

[bitn2]

Which in our case is not cheaper or easier to maintain (and less secure).

Why? Its as secure as windows if configure your firewall correct. What is in your case cheaper to do it on windows?

The 'linux' version of 3CX is not the same as the Windows version in the way how it is installeld and maintained.
You do not need to install and maintain a Linux distribution and install the 3CX software seperate.
It just is a virtual appliance, that happens to run on top of a linux OS.

Thats why its easier and cheaper.

 

[Summa College]

Why? Its as secure as windows if configure your firewall correct. What is in your case cheaper to do it on windows?


Thats why its easier and cheaper.

I guess we are on the same page

Installing a secure OS does not automatically make it secure. (I also do believe Windows or Linux are both secure)
Like you mention 'configure the firewall correct'.
This would not be like a right click on the network adapter, you would need to have knowledge how to do this.

Without enough OS knowledge running a server is a security and business risk. (no matter what OS it runs)
Not only security wise (configure firewall/how to run updates), but think also about simple tasks like finding logs, setting the correct rights or navigating the filesystem.

And this offcourse can be learned and trained or someone hired, however that is where the costs come into play.
Being that linux administrators in general are more expensive than a Windows administrator and taking into account the bussiness risk (and costs if it goes wrong) and extra overhead in creating the (extra/new) ecosystem to maintain those servers.
The costs for that windows license are then peanuts.


Again, above comes into play when an administrator has to maintain the underlying OS.
However the 'linux' server version of 3CX is in my opinion mislabeled and better could be marketed as a virtual appliance.

 

[bitn2]

However the 'linux' server version of 3CX is in my opinion mislabeled and better could be marketed as a virtual appliance.

Its not only virtual you can install it barmetal if you want. Virtual is better because of snapshots and other stuff.

You dont need to have any advanced linux knowledge. All you need, you will find on the gui from 3cx.

 

[GabrielaS_3CX]

Hi Everyone

If you have a V18 paid license running OS Windows you can upgrade to V20 SP2.

For future new (Windows) installations please quote the ENT edition.

 

[JohnWoodCC]

Hi Everyone

If you have a V18 paid license running OS Windows you can upgrade to V20 SP2.

For future new (Windows) installations please quote the ENT edition.

@GabrielaS_3CX, it sounds like, from what you just said, I can upgrade to version 20 now with our current Pro license, and when our license renews in July 2025, we will need to start paying for the Enterprise license. Is that correct?

 

[flash999]

@JohnWoodCC I can confirm that If you have a V18 paid license running OS Windows you can upgrade to V20 SP2
I also couldn't get a clear answer for this question from 3CX and from our reseller. Gabriela gave me the same answer in a post I asked about it and since then we were able to upgrade our Windows v18 to v20 and its running fine now with Pro license