VMware Horizon Community
SSchmidt_sym
Contributor
Contributor
‎02-07-2023 05:22 AM

Licenses to run multiuser Windows 10/11

Hi all,

We are currently using Windows Server remote desktop session hosts. Since Office versions will be discontinued no later than October 2026 (https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE2OqRI), we are looking for appropriate alternatives.

Here I came across the multiuser Windows 10 and 11.

In the Microsoft Learn article (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/windows-10-multisession-faq), VMware is listed as being an "Azure Virtual Desktop Approvded Provider".

Our IT service provider thinks that Horizon Standard licensing would be sufficient to run the multiuser Windows 10/11 on-premises.
Is this correct or do I need a Horizon Cloud subscription (if yes, how does the licensing work?)?

I would prefer to continue to run the machines in a local infrastructure. Since an on-premises variant is basically available (Azure Stack HCI), I am wondering what licenses/abonoments I need to subscribe to in order to run an on-premises VMWare infrastructure (vSphere Standard) in a license compliant manner.

I have already done quite a bit of research and asked partners, but have not received a satisfactory answer. Maybe someone here can help.

Kind regards
Sven

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Jerrid
VMware Employee
VMware Employee
‎02-14-2023 06:25 PM

Hello Sven,

To use Windows 10/11 enterprise multi-session with Horizon Cloud, you will need to have one of the following licenses:

  • Horizon Apps Standard Subscription
  • Horizon Apps Universal Subscription 
  • Horizon Universal Subscription 

As for where you can deploy and run windows 10/11 enterprise multi-session VMs, Microsoft only allows it to be deployed and run on Microsoft Azure.

You can use Horizon Cloud which is deployed in Microsoft Azure and leverage windows 10/11 enterprise multi-session VMs with our service. Because as you stated already, we are an AVD partner which means our customers can use horizon cloud and deploy windows 10/11 enterprise multi-session VMs using horizon cloud.

And to be clear, Microsoft does not allow for windows 10/11 enterprise multi-session VMs to be deployed or run on-premises or in any other cloud provider but Microsoft Azure.

 

 

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SSchmidt_sym
Contributor
Contributor
‎02-14-2023 11:36 PM

Hello Jerrid,

thank you for your answer.

just to make sure. There is no hybrid scenario with VMWare to run Windows 10/11 multiuser on-premises.
I have to run the Windows 10/11 in conjunction with VMWare in the cloud?

Quote: "And to be clear, Microsoft does not allow for windows 10/11 enterprise multi-session VMs to be deployed or run on-premises or in any other cloud provider but Microsoft Azure."

According to Microsoft, there is a way to run Azure Virtual Desktop on-premises. So I am a bit confused.

Microsoft itself mentions Azure Stack HCI for this.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/azure-stack-hci-overview

According to this, the management of the VMs is done in Azure, but the actual workload is local.


According to https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/azure-stack/hci/overview Microsoft has certified hardware (with cloud compulsion) to implement such a scenario.
We use many database applications and cannot run our RDSH in the cloud due to latencies.

So the key question is whether there is feasible hybrid scenario for the Windows 10/11 multiuser in conjunction with VMWare Horizon Cloud.

Kind regards
Sven

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