Information Systems:Microsoft Licensing - Revision history

Jeremym: /* Microsoft Retail Licensing (Office 2019) */

2022-11-17T21:16:38Z

Microsoft Retail Licensing (Office 2019)

Jeremym: /* Microsoft Retail Licensing */

2022-11-17T21:05:56Z

Microsoft Retail Licensing

Jeremym: /* Microsoft Retail Licensing */

2022-11-17T21:05:36Z

Microsoft Retail Licensing

Anmolm at 15:55, 19 August 2021

2021-08-19T15:55:07Z

Norwinu: /* Unused Licenses Available Right Now? */

2021-01-13T21:51:01Z

Unused Licenses Available Right Now?

Norwinu at 21:50, 13 January 2021

2021-01-13T21:50:27Z

Norwinu at 21:47, 13 January 2021

2021-01-13T21:47:46Z

Darrenf at 19:45, 9 May 2018

2018-05-09T19:45:58Z

Darrenf: /* Volume Licensing Administration */

2018-05-09T19:43:28Z

Volume Licensing Administration

Norwinu at 16:33, 23 June 2016

2016-06-23T16:33:13Z

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 * unipharmwholesale2@outlook.com / NewVisionIT2051!
-These accounts use the email: admin@unipharm.com for verification.  This email is aliased to it@unipharm.com so check that mailbox for your code.
+Both of these outlook.com email accounts use the email: admin@unipharm.com for verification.  This email is forwarded to it@unipharm.com so check that mailbox for your code.
 ==Status Of Windows Server Licensing at uniPHARM==

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Yes it is soooooo not a good idea to have a personal Hotmail account linked to licenses owned by a business but I did not know this when we started buying volume licenses back in 2006. It is possible to unlink a Hotmail address from all of uniPHARM's volume licenses from Microsoft but it requires intense coordination between Microsoft and CDW and a goat sacrifice. If Darren gets hit by a bus or wins the Florida State Power Ball lottery, you have the above login information to not only get licenses but to also move them to a different outlook.com email account.
-===Microsoft Retail Licensing===
+===Microsoft Retail Licensing (Office 2019)===
 uniPHARM maintains "dummy" Outlook accounts for the purpose of managing retail licenses (not manageable through 365 Portal or VLSC). One such license is Office Home and Business 2019.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 uniPHARM maintains "dummy" Outlook accounts for the purpose of managing retail licenses (not manageable through 365 Portal or VLSC). One such license is Office Home and Business 2019.
-* unipharmwholesale@outlook.com / NewVisionIT2051@
+* unipharmwholesale@outlook.com / NewTechIS21!
 ==Status Of Windows Server Licensing at uniPHARM==

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 The third type of license is the volume license.  This one is much more complicated than the first two, mostly because there are a lot more rules and regulations for system administrators in the corporate space to follow.  Volume licenses are divided into 2 groups, 1 called Open Business and the 2nd being Open Value.  Open Business licenses are for 1,2 or 3 year terms where the license comes with Software Assurance.  More on Software Assurance below.  Open Business license purchases are an upfront cost.  Open Value are 3 year terms only with optional Software Assurance and optional split payments.  Pricing is only slightly different between Open Business and Open Value, while the options between the two are variable.
-Software Assurance is a set of benefits that can be linked to a purchased license.  The biggest benefit is that the license gets a free version upgrade if Microsoft releases a new version of the program or OS during the Software Assurance term.  Be aware that any "term" is referring to the Software Assurance, NOT the license.  Once a software license is purchase by a company, it is owned forever - it's the Software Assurance that has a term limit.  The other SA benefits are small amounts of free tech support and training materials and the right to install the licensed program or OS on a home computer...but not a second computer owned by the purchasing company.  Volume licenses also cannot be installed on any computer that does not already have a COA sticker on it because all volume licenses are "upgrade" versions and require the COA sticker even when you actually install the full version of Windows for example.  See told you this was full of rules and regulations.  Both Open Business and Open Value have a minimum license purchase count of 5 for each individual purchase.  It is not possible to purchase a single license of Office under a newly created Open Value or Open Business agreement, you must purchase 5 licenses.  Resellers like CDW get around this restriction by selling 1 license of Office at $700 and 4 volume licenses of DVD player software at $5 each to hit the required license count.  What Microsoft wants businesses to do is get a total count of say 100 users so that you can purchase 100 Open Value licenses of Office with 3 years of Software Assurance that you can then renew at the end of those 3 years to get another 1,2 or 3 years worth of benefits.  The way to win the SA gamble, is to get that free version upgrade during the term because the cost of SA is always less than the cost of buying new licenses.  If no version upgrade happens, then the cost of the SA is mostly wasted and doubly so if the SA is renewed and there is no version upgrade during that term either.
+Software Assurance is a set of benefits that can be linked to a purchased license.  The biggest benefit is that the license gets a free version upgrade if Microsoft releases a new version of the program or OS during the Software Assurance term.  Be aware that any "term" is referring to the Software Assurance, NOT the license.  Once a software license is purchase by a company, it is owned forever - it's the Software Assurance that has a term limit.  The other SA benefits are small amounts of free tech support and training materials and the right to install the licensed program or OS on a home computer...but not a second computer owned by the purchasing company.  Volume licenses also cannot be installed on any computer that does not already have a COA
 As mentioned above, one of the biggest differences between Open Value and Open Business is that Open Value allows split payments.  This means that if, as in the above example, 100 Office licenses are purchased, the total upfront cost is split into 3 equal parts paid in installments over the 3 year term.  At the end of the term the SA either expires or is renewed and the license to use and install the software is retained forever.  This is not leasing or financing, its just split payments that the reseller has to keep track of.

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 * We have 3 unused licenses that are available to be placed on 3 physical servers.  Because of those 3 licenses we can create 3 net new virtual machines that consume 2 virtual server licenses each. (Note: this means 6 VMs are possible with 3 licenses -[[User:Norwinu|norwizzle]] ([[User talk:Norwinu|talk]]) 13:50, 13 January 2021 (PST))
-We may not like the rules, but they are legally binding and if we want to pass a license audit from Microsoft, we have to be compliant.  We have been audited by Microsoft twice since 2007 so they do happen and it is in our best interest to be compliant so that the audit doesn't cost anything.  Being able to create 3 net new VMs is a good thing and when we are able to decommission Stewie, it will free up another 2 virtual licenses for 3CX if we end up using that.
+We may not like the rules, but they are legally binding and if we want to pass a license audit from Microsoft, we have to be compliant.  We have been audited by Microsoft twice since 2007 so they do happen and it is in our best interest to be compliant so that the audit doesn't cost anything.  Being able to create 3 net new VMs is a good thing and when we are able to decommission Stewie, it will free up another 2 virtual licenses for 3CX if we end up using that. (LOL. -[[User:Norwinu|norwizzle]] ([[User talk:Norwinu|talk]]) 13:50, 13 January 2021 (PST))
 [[Category: Servers - Software]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=Licensing Overview=
+==Licensing Overview==
 The topic of Microsoft Licensing is something that has a certain amount of "open to interpretation" to it.  There are 3 main types of licenses and each of the 3 have a bunch of sub types.  The easiest license type to understand is the retail license.  This is boxed software that you can purchase at Best Buy.  In recent years, Microsoft has leaned away from boxed retail licenses and started selling software as a subscription for the context of retail customers.  A traditional retail box copy of Windows or Office could be only installed on 1 computer at a time but the software could be moved to a different computer as long as it did not exist on the previous machine.  Retail boxed licenses are generally expensive and Microsoft does not want that type of license used in a business setting even though there is no technical restriction - you can even by retail licenses of Windows and Office from CDW.
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Furthermore, Microsoft has made license compliance slightly easier with built-in mechanisms to activate volume licenses using a server role called KMS.  KMS does have some restrictions, but the purpose is to activate product keys automatically in certain situations.
-=Volume Licensing Administration=
+===Volume Licensing Administration===
 Microsoft requires a Hotmail email account to access the Volume License website that contains all of our Office and Server licenses. Unfortunately, my Hotmail account is linked to all of those volume license purchases. If you need to get a license key or download a CD from the website, please use the login below.
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 Yes it is soooooo not a good idea to have a personal Hotmail account linked to licenses owned by a business but I did not know this when we started buying volume licenses back in 2006. It is possible to unlink a Hotmail address from all of uniPHARM's volume licenses from Microsoft but it requires intense coordination between Microsoft and CDW and a goat sacrifice. If Darren gets hit by a bus or wins the Florida State Power Ball lottery, you have the above login information to not only get licenses but to also move them to a different outlook.com email account.
-=Status Of Windows Server Licensing As Of May 2018=
+===Microsoft Retail Licensing===
 * We own 5 licenses of Windows Server Standard 2012R2
@@ Line 36: / Line 42: @@
 The above are considered different versions and line up with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
-==Licensing Rules==
+===Licensing Rules===
 * 1 license can be used on 1 physical server or used on 2 virtual servers
@@ Line 43: / Line 49: @@
 In English, this means that for every 1 VM that we have in production, it will consume 2 virtual server licenses because we have the ability to move the VM to a different host.  This is backed up by the Microsoft documentation that is publicly available.  I have 2 PDF documents from the Microsoft website that describe the above rules and limitations and requirements for the Server Standard license.
-==In-Use Physical Servers Consuming 1 Physical License Each==
+===In-Use Physical Servers Consuming 1 Physical License Each===
 * UWDDC3 - Active Directory Server
@@ Line 59: / Line 65: @@
 * Total of 4 x 2 = 8
-==Unused Licenses Available Right Now?==
+===Unused Licenses Available Right Now?===
-* We have 3 unused licenses that are available to be placed on 3 physical servers.  Because of those 3 licenses we can create 3 net new virtual machines that consume 2 virtual server licenses each.
+* We have 3 unused licenses that are available to be placed on 3 physical servers.  Because of those 3 licenses we can create 3 net new virtual machines that consume 2 virtual server licenses each. (Note: this means 6 VMs are possible with 3 licenses -[[User:Norwinu|norwizzle]] ([[User talk:Norwinu|talk]]) 13:50, 13 January 2021 (PST))
 We may not like the rules, but they are legally binding and if we want to pass a license audit from Microsoft, we have to be compliant.  We have been audited by Microsoft twice since 2007 so they do happen and it is in our best interest to be compliant so that the audit doesn't cost anything.  Being able to create 3 net new VMs is a good thing and when we are able to decommission Stewie, it will free up another 2 virtual licenses for 3CX if we end up using that.
 [[Category: Servers - Software]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:47, 13 January 2021
Line 64:		Line 64:

	We may not like the rules, but they are legally binding and if we want to pass a license audit from Microsoft, we have to be compliant. We have been audited by Microsoft twice since 2007 so they do happen and it is in our best interest to be compliant so that the audit doesn't cost anything. Being able to create 3 net new VMs is a good thing and when we are able to decommission Stewie, it will free up another 2 virtual licenses for 3CX if we end up using that.		We may not like the rules, but they are legally binding and if we want to pass a license audit from Microsoft, we have to be compliant. We have been audited by Microsoft twice since 2007 so they do happen and it is in our best interest to be compliant so that the audit doesn't cost anything. Being able to create 3 net new VMs is a good thing and when we are able to decommission Stewie, it will free up another 2 virtual licenses for 3CX if we end up using that.
		+
		+	==Microsoft Retail Licensing==
		+	uniPHARM maintains "dummy" Outlook accounts for the purpose of managing retail licenses (not manageable through 365 Portal or VLSC):
		+
		+	* unipharmwholesale@outlook.com / NewVisionIT2051@

	[[Category: Servers - Software]]		[[Category: Servers - Software]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:45, 9 May 2018
Line 26:		Line 26:

	Yes it is soooooo not a good idea to have a personal Hotmail account linked to licenses owned by a business but I did not know this when we started buying volume licenses back in 2006. It is possible to unlink a Hotmail address from all of uniPHARM's volume licenses from Microsoft but it requires intense coordination between Microsoft and CDW and a goat sacrifice. If Darren gets hit by a bus or wins the Florida State Power Ball lottery, you have the above login information to not only get licenses but to also move them to a different outlook.com email account.		Yes it is soooooo not a good idea to have a personal Hotmail account linked to licenses owned by a business but I did not know this when we started buying volume licenses back in 2006. It is possible to unlink a Hotmail address from all of uniPHARM's volume licenses from Microsoft but it requires intense coordination between Microsoft and CDW and a goat sacrifice. If Darren gets hit by a bus or wins the Florida State Power Ball lottery, you have the above login information to not only get licenses but to also move them to a different outlook.com email account.
		+
		+	=Status Of Windows Server Licensing As Of May 2018=
		+	==Starting Numbers==
		+
		+	* We own 5 licenses of Windows Server Standard 2012R2
		+	* We own 6 licenses of Windows Server Standard 2012
		+	* Total of 11 licenses
		+
		+	The above are considered different versions and line up with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
		+
		+	==Licensing Rules==
		+
		+	* 1 license can be used on 1 physical server or used on 2 virtual servers
		+	* If the license is used for a virtual server AND it has the ability to move to a second host, the second host must be allocated with a second virtual server license
		+
		+	In English, this means that for every 1 VM that we have in production, it will consume 2 virtual server licenses because we have the ability to move the VM to a different host. This is backed up by the Microsoft documentation that is publicly available. I have 2 PDF documents from the Microsoft website that describe the above rules and limitations and requirements for the Server Standard license.
		+
		+	==In-Use Physical Servers Consuming 1 Physical License Each==
		+
		+	* UWDDC3 - Active Directory Server
		+	* UWDDC4 - Active Directory Server
		+	* Stewie - Toshiba Phone Software
		+	* Backup - BackupExec ( and shortly Veeam with this license being moved to the old SuperServer hardware )
		+	* Total of 4 x 1 = 4
		+
		+	==In-Use Virtual Servers Consuming 2 Virtual Licenses Each==
		+
		+	* Mail - MDaemon/Serv-U
		+	* Lucy - Jetforms/VSIFax/Tekterm
		+	* SuperServer - File&Print
		+	* Thermoprofile - WDS ( will be redone as a fresh new VM soon )
		+	* Total of 4 x 2 = 8
		+
		+	==Unused Licenses Available Right Now?==
		+
		+	* We have 3 unused licenses that are available to be placed on 3 physical servers. Because of those 3 licenses we can create 3 net new virtual machines that consume 2 virtual server licenses each.
		+
		+	We may not like the rules, but they are legally binding and if we want to pass a license audit from Microsoft, we have to be compliant. We have been audited by Microsoft twice since 2007 so they do happen and it is in our best interest to be compliant so that the audit doesn't cost anything. Being able to create 3 net new VMs is a good thing and when we are able to decommission Stewie, it will free up another 2 virtual licenses for 3CX if we end up using that.

	[[Category: Servers - Software]]		[[Category: Servers - Software]]

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/servicecenter/
-Login is darrenfreedman@hotmail.com Password is #@$devil505
+Login is darrenfreedman@hotmail.com Password is #@$Devil505
 Yes it is soooooo not a good idea to have a personal Hotmail account linked to licenses owned by a business but I did not know this when we started buying volume licenses back in 2006. It is possible to unlink a Hotmail address from all of uniPHARM's volume licenses from Microsoft but it requires intense coordination between Microsoft and CDW and a goat sacrifice. If Darren gets hit by a bus or wins the Florida State Power Ball lottery, you have the above login information to not only get licenses but to also move them to a different outlook.com email account.