Windows Server Licensing in Testing Environment


Recommended Posts

The topic and description says it all. If there were a testing environment just for testing other software, and those machines were ghost imaged all the time and swapped around for different testing purposes, would Microsoft legally require there to be licenses for each of the servers? They can change machines all the time due to the ghosting going on. Also, they never go into the real world -- they would be testing for OTHER machines that WOULD be going into an actual production environment. This is not a "live" environment.

Also, if someone could provide clear documentation on this from Microsoft, that would be greatly appreciated, because I sure can't find it on their website.

I work for a Microsoft Gold Partner and we are allowed unlimited licenses (AFAIK) for Windows Server 2003 for use in a development/test environment.

If you do not currently have any kind of Volume deal etc... then I would suggest that techinally you would need a license for each copy of the software that is running at any one time. So if you were to run 6 test servers at any one time, then you would require 6 licenses.

My suggestion would be to visit the Microsoft website and download the 180 day evaluation of the Server Edition that you need to use for your testing purposes then you needn't worry about licensing.

  MagicMan said:
I work for a Microsoft Gold Partner and we are allowed unlimited licenses (AFAIK) for Windows Server 2003 for use in a development/test environment.

If you do not currently have any kind of Volume deal etc... then I would suggest that techinally you would need a license for each copy of the software that is running at any one time. So if you were to run 6 test servers at any one time, then you would require 6 licenses.

My suggestion would be to visit the Microsoft website and download the 180 day evaluation of the Server Edition that you need to use for your testing purposes then you needn't worry about licensing.

Yes, but then there's the date issue. It'd be a pain to roll it back all the time.

No agreement set up right now, but our licenses could be used for other things, rather than the test stuff. It'd sure help out.

Hey.. ;)

If you have no MSDN or Volume/EA type aggrements with MS. I would suggest you call them - tell them what your doing, an what is the best way to be legal in doing it.

We own quite a few MSDN subscriptions an a full EA, I can ask our licensing guy.. But to be honest if you do not hold some type of agreement with them. I don't think what your doing is on the full up an up.

Your best bet is to just CALL THEM.. which would be much better info that what your going to get from some strangers on the net ;)

  Catharsis said:
Anyone know of a way to call them to ask them this simple question without having to pay $99? I can't find a contact line on their site.

Where exactly were you looking??? Maybe its just me -- but hmmm, lets see now.. License related question, maybe the licensing FAQ would have something :rofl:

Why what do you know - first freaking question.. hehehehe

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/faq.mspx

Q. How can I get help with specific licensing questions?

A. Review the Licensing section for information on specific program details, licensing briefs, and other resources.

Or you can call (800) 426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M.–5:30 P.M. Pacific Time to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. Worldwide customers can see Microsoft licensing sites worldwide to find contact information in their locations.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Download old Windows Startup Sounds @ https://www.winhistory.de/more/winstart/winstart_en.htm
    • Surface Copilot+ PCs coming to classrooms from July 22, turbocharged with on-device AI by Paul Hill Microsoft has announced that it’s launching the new Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch models specifically for education customers from July 22. The Redmond giant said that these devices are being launched as a direct response to feedback from educators who want practicality and ease of use in their diverse classrooms. These are both Copilot+ PCs so teachers and students will be able to leverage the latest AI features thanks to the dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that allow for on-device AI. The on-device AI, aside from delivering well-known features like Recall, will enable new education features such as a new app Microsoft is working on called Microsoft Learning Zone. Microsoft Learning Zone will allow teachers to create personalized lessons by adapting content from trusted sources like OpenStax, generating interactive games with Kahoot, and tracking students progress. Microsoft expects this to help teachers save time and deliver a more flexible and engaging classroom. Another AI feature that will be available is Click to Do. This lets students highlight text or images and get contextual help. It can be used to summarize a paragraph or explain a graph. To activate it, students can press the Windows key and click. This feature runs entirely on device so inputs to the AI are secure and you don’t need to ever worry about third-parties seeing. Finally, these devices will also have accessibility features such as Voice Access which lets you navigate with speech and Live Captions which provide real-time subtitles and translations for spoken content. These make the devices more inclusive for students with disabilities. Regarding security, these laptops come with the Microsoft Pluton security chip directly integrated into the processor for protecting sensitive data. It can protect data such as passwords and sign-ins, even if your device is stolen. Thanks to automatic Windows Updates, schools never need to worry about falling behind on updates either. With the impending demise of Windows 10 in mid-October, these Surface devices arrive just in time for schools looking for somewhere to upgrade to. Aside from AI features and security, Microsoft is also pushing other key features including easy repair with replacement components at the Microsoft Store and iFixit, their lightweight design and all-day battery life making them ideal for carrying and surviving the school day, and their compatibility with popular education apps such as TestNav, Google Classroom, Minecraft Education, and Adobe Express.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Rising Star
      Phillip0web went up a rank
      Rising Star
    • One Month Later
      Epaminombas earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Year In
      Bert Fershner earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Reacting Well
      ChrisOdinUK earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Year In
      Steviant earned a badge
      One Year In
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      545
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      205
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      170
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      151
    5. 5
      Som
      131
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!