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Paying for Windows Server 2012: Worse than using it?
Readers chat about licensing complexity and dealing with Redmond
Live Chat Paying too much, getting audited by Microsoft, unused licenses – Microsoft licensing is bureaucratic headache that often detracts from the joy of using the software.
Fortunately with Windows Server 2012, Microsoft has made some fundamental changes to the way it boxes and charges that make things easier and clearer.
No wonder: with Microsoft’s proposition that Windows Server 2012 forms its “cloud operating system” and with competition coming from VMware, Oracle and Amazon, Redmond couldn’t afford not to make some changes.
Reg readers and El Reg's software editor chatted to two Microsoft licensing experts on 16 November to find out what was new on Windows Server 2012 licensing and dealing with Redmond.
Joining them were Microsoft licensing veteran Paul DeGroot, principal consultant with Pica Communications and author of the new book Microsoft Licensing Concepts, an introduction to Microsoft licensing, and Louise Ulrick, a Microsoft business consultant who advises large customers and resellers in the UK about licensing on behalf of Microsoft.
They talked about:
- Changes to Windows Server licensing
- Rules and usage rights
- How to avoid getting into trouble... without paying too much
- Volume licensing
- CALs in a world of BYOD and cloud
- Licensing workloads in a Hyper-V environment
You can read the conversation in the window below. ®
Biting the hand that feeds IT
