virtualboy blog - All Comments

re: Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization – Done!

JimMc — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:51:51 GMT

Just curious why Microsoft has not issued official books for exams like 70-659. It ould make the process a bit easier.

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

MattMcSpirit — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:51:45 GMT

Hi Ron,

Bit of a tricky one I think. When it comes to your Windows Server 2008 OS's, you're fine. Install it on the host, and enable Hyper-V (but nothing else), and then create a 2008 VM and run your workload in that. However, I'm not 100% on the 2003 OEM Web edition. Part of me thinks that because that license lived, and now dies with the hardware, (and the fact that web edition has no virtualization rights normally), that it wouldn't be allowed to run that license virtualized (activation may also prove difficult due to the 'virtual' hardware), however part of me is also unsure that if it is virtualized and remains on the same piece of hardware, it may be ok and compliant. I'm not 100% confident either way, so I would get in touch with support: www.microsoft.com/.../contact-us.aspx.

Sorry i can't be more help,

Matt

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

Ron — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:12:06 GMT

Hi Matt,

I read through the questions but still am a bit unsure so here goes.

I have a server that has a hardware specific Windows Server 2003 web edition license tied to it. If I beef it up and install 2008 Standard and assign that to the 'box', can I then run a virtual 2008 license and the 2003 web edition license on a second virtual machine for a total of 2 virtual machines and be in compliance?

re: DPM 2010 RC and Hyper-V R2 VM’s on CSV’s – Order of Patches

Matheus da Silva Primo — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:48:48 GMT

Sup guys, i encountered the same issue in my DPM server, i was suspecting that this hotfix was included in sp1, looked for a list to confirm and yes indeed, it is already included. Spoke to a senior colleague and he had the same issue time ago, he told me it was simple to resolve, just reboot the physical server that hosts the VM you want to include in the protection group and it shall work.

re: Windows Experience Index - 4.2 - on a laptop!

imon — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:46:24 GMT

Dell Inspiron 14r with Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit SP1 + BIOS updated to A07.

Base Score 3.9 to 4.1 (it changes every time with Graphics driver update!)

Processor 5.5 (Intel Pentium P6100 2.00 GHz)

RAM 5.5 (2.00 GB)

Graphics 3.9 to 4.1 (it changes every time with driver update!)

Gaming Graphics 5.1

Primary HDD 5.7

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

LS — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:11:21 GMT

Matt

Ignore the last comment. THe cloth has been taken from my eyes now I read it in the correct way.

Thank YOU!

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

LS — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:09:06 GMT

Matt

With respect, I am not sure that is what it says. I have studied that page at length.

My reading of the table is that the purchase of a Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter license allows downgrade rights to support my deployment of Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition. Does it explicitly state that this license affords deployment of, say, a mix of vOSE guests - some Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition; others Windows Server 2003 Enterprise?

Maybe it's my ignorance - is that what the "Available Downgrade Kits via the Windows Server Fulfillment site" section is telling me?

Very many thanks for the rapid response.

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

MattMcSpirit — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:07:19 GMT

Hi LS,

All the info here! www.microsoft.com/.../downgrade-rights.aspx

Hope that helps!

Matt

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

LS — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:49:55 GMT

Matt

This is a great article. Many thanks.

I have just one question regarding Windows versions on the VM guests. I see references across the internet (including your response to Jonesy 30.08.11 7:27am) that we are allowed to deploy earlier Windows versions as VM guests on a Windows 2008 R2 Data Center licensed host - not just Windows 2008 R2 DC, Ent or Std.

I can find no evidence for this in any Microsoft documentation on their website, product use rights and so on. There are references to the rights to deploy all Windows Server 2008 R2 Editions but nothing regarding downgrade of versions (e.g. 2008, 2003 R2, 2003).

Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks

re: Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization – Done!

MattMcSpirit — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:44:11 GMT

For 70-640, I would suggest the resources on this page: www.microsoft.com/.../exam.aspx

Hope that helps!

Matt

re: Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization – Done!

NDIPHIWE — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:42:20 GMT

HEY GUYS IM READY TO TAKEON MY 70-640 INTERNATIONAL ON THE 9 DEC ANY LATEST LINKS I CAN CHECH OR BLOGS?

re: Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization – Done!

MattMcSpirit — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:57:59 GMT

Hi ndiphiwe,

Don't worry, it's multiple choice, but i don't think it's open book - i certainly couldn't take any materials in with me!

Matt

re: Exam 70-659: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization – Done!

ndiphiwe Miza — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:40:06 GMT

hey guys im a bit nervous i've never written an open book exam on 70-659 how do they test u?

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

MattMcSpirit — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:06:18 GMT

@Himawari - i think a Volume License is fine, the physical and virtual applies to OEM I believe.

Matt

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

Himawari — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:20:43 GMT

Hi Matt,

Thanks for your prompt response ^_^

We recently have bought Windows 2008 R2 Server Enterprise Edition (Open License), and we received certificate license. In that certificate, no identification of physical key and/or virtual key, simply just one key.

Damien already asked about this before, it’s just his is an OEM license. Is that any difference with the Open License? Are we having authority to request the VM key to our vendor or Microsoft?

Many thanks in advance ^_^

-himawari-

re: Seeing Core Parking in action

Alvaro — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:32:49 GMT

Nice post! ; just curius about perfomance issues ... the common idea in the web it's that CP means a "degraded performance for less power consuption" compromise ... .i understand that CP work when the system is iddle or with low load .. but maybe the transition from full cores working to some parked and back isn't that good for performance???

Maybe we need a blog post to set the record straight

Ahh you have a broken link -> "There’s a nice example of that here." -> thelazyadmin.com/.../what-s-new-in-2008-r2-core-parking.aspx -> 404 Error

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

MattMcSpirit — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:33:44 GMT

@himawari - yep, it's still accurate. The pricing may be slightly different, but the fundamental licensing choices are unchanged.

Glad you found it useful!

Matt

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

himawari — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:40:06 GMT

Hi Matt,

I'm so glad that I found your blog and this thread. I'm currently in research about Microsoft licensing and your post here so brighten my day :)

I just want to confirm a little bit, is this applicable to this date? because your post was 13 Nov 2008.

Is your post still applicable nowadays? or is there any changes for Licensing Ms Windows Server in Virtual Environment?

Once again, great posting, thank you for sharing.

Many thanks in advance

-himawari-

re: Microsoft Licensing - FAQ Blog Feed!

MattMcSpirit — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:13:40 GMT

Hi Mauricio,

The Core CAL Suite includes SharePoint Standard CALs (www.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx) whereas you may have been quoted for the Enterprise CALs (sharepoint.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx). You can get the Enterprise CALs for SharePoint in 2 ways. Either you buy them individually, as it seems you have been quoted, or, instead of going for Core CAL, you go for the Enterprise CAL suite, which gives you loads of technologies. (www.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx)

Hope that helps!

Matt

re: Microsoft Licensing - FAQ Blog Feed!

Mauricio Navarrete — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:06:31 GMT

Hi..!

I have a couple of questions about CORE Cals and SharePoint CALs... actually our business parter included on the proposal to renew our license contract including the following products:

450 CORE CALs (for new equiptments)

800 SharePoint CALS (Additionals)

My issue is, if the CORE CALs include access for SharePoint, that should be discounted from SharePoint Cals??

Thanks for the help.

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

MattMcSpirit — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:50:56 GMT

@Damien - There should be a virtual key that ships as part of the media I think - you'd need to contact the OEM if it's not there.

Matt

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

Damien Rossiter — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:23:55 GMT

Hey Matt,

If we have purchased an OEM system builder lic of Enterprise where do we obtain the installation codes for the VMs & are these vms to be Std or Enterprise

many thanks

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

MattMcSpirit — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:37:06 GMT

@Cecil - I believe you can, but you'd want to double check with the Microsoft licensing desk. According to this document download.microsoft.com/.../Windows_Server_2003_R2.docx, Windows Server 2003 R2 (and the R2 is specific there - you need to have R2 licenses for 2003 for this licensing) came with the same licensing rights as 2008/2008R2, so Standard gives you 1 VM, Enterprise gives you 4, and Datacenter unlimited. If you have a host that's running 2008 R2 STD, or even Hyper-V Server, or ESX, you could still assign your 2003 R2 license and gain the benefit of the virtualization rights, however those VMs cannot be 'newer' than 2003 R2, and remember, if you only have 1 VL to assign to 1 host, you wouldn't be permitted to migrate those VMs to another host that wasn't covered by a 2003 R2 or newer equivalent license.

Hope that helps!

Matt

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

Cecil E. Yancey Jr. — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:00:59 GMT

Can one assign a previous volume license of Server 2003 to Standard 2008 R2 ?

re: Licensing Windows Server in a Virtual Environment

MattMcSpirit — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:27:38 GMT

@Elena - there's nothing technical about 'assigning a license' - it's just a paper-based exercise to keep a track of your licenses. Remember, it's all based on trust.

@Jonesy - if you have 8 ESX hosts, each with 2 CPUs, and you have bought 16 CPUs worth of Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter, then you are allowed to spin up an unlimited number of 2008 R2 Datacenter, Enterprise or Standard edition VMs on those 8 hosts. You can even downgrade the VMs to previous versions of Windows Server too. You'll need to call Microsoft to get the keys for older versions however, unless you already have them.