Thursday, 28 August 2008

Microsoft finally gets real

Up until recently (I personally had no idea this was the case and I wonder how many people actually did), Microsoft did not officially permit you to move VMs (Virtual Machines) running 41 of their products around willy-nilly.

Once you had installed certain MS apps on Server X but wanted to use XenMotion or V-Motion etc. to then move them to Server Y, you weren't officially allowed to do this until 90 days from installation had passed. If you wanted to move it sooner than 90 days after installation, technically, you had to license that app on each piece of tin you wanted it to run on. All this in spite of the fact that you weren't actually doubling up on sessions, you were simply removing it from one box and putting it on another. Common sense appears to have now prevailed and, thankfully, this has now been relaxed.

But what business is it of Microsoft where I install their software anyway? If I have bought a license to use their software, I'll install it wherever I like thanks.

Zane Adam, senior director of integrated virtualization [sic] in the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft: "Businesses are taking steps to make their IT operations more dynamic and are delving into virtualization as a cornerstone strategy. Microsoft recognizes this and is innovating its licensing policies, product support and a wide range of IT solutions to help customers get virtual now."

Gee, thanks Zane.

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