Microsoft Offers Virtual Licensing Options for Vista

Microsoft recently announced change its licensing strategy virtual should let it easier for enterprises to license Vista on all types of virtual machines.

Microsoft will now permit the world to enterprise thin-client workstations or any other version of the "diskless computer" - if they have Software Assurance.

The company also set up a new licensing programme, Windows Vista Enterprise centralized desktop (vecd), Allow authorized a "virtual machine concentrated in the server hardware." "We are working with our partners to enable them to provide software to enable diskless computers, they are likely to make two different situations, customers, "Scott Woodgate Director, Microsoft Windows Business Group said in an interview posted on Microsofts Web site. "In the first case, each employees hard drive storage is a separate centralized storage hardware.

In the second case, the images are shared by a group of users. Our visa so that the two situations, enabling customers to working with our partners , in order to determine whether these are valuable in the framework of its desktop environment. " Woodgate According to the statements online, "diskless PC-" choice It is an additional option for customers - is not participating in the price movements. The vecd price will depend on whether there are customers to buy it for the personal computer or for virtual machines.

These two changes are only available to customers of Software Assurance.

And vecd might be a good fit in some customers, it does not believe that Microsoft These new programme will immediately catch up, said: "For most enterprises, up with the most cost-effective options for centralized management of their desktop environment continue to terminal services, "Woodgate said:" vecd may have lower price performance ratio than Terminal Services - the hardware requirements Virtual Console - but it does have the benefit of the same application compatibility and isolation of the border, because of Windows Vista. " New programme was first launched last week, in the Microsoft Management Summit 2007 in San Diego.