Microsoft OS licensing on VMware Workstation

[BrennanB]

I know this discussion has been had many times but I have been unable to find any current 2011/2012 discussions.

For business with Volume Licensing and Software Assurance where a True Up occurs once a year how are OS licensed when running as a guest in Vmware Workstation and the OS is for testing purposes. So no e-mail, etc.

I would really like to conisder Workstation 8 as a solution for some testing outside of our R&D/Q&A dept. So that some of our users would be able to launch a VM of a MS OS to be able to test an issue, once they are done the VM is turned off. Another issues arises, they download and launch a virtual image and test.

[abirhasan]

Here is detail aout Microsoft Licensing Affects VMware Environments, I belive you will find your answer from here ..Have a look..

http://www.dabcc.com/article.aspx?id=1546

abirhasan 

[pdegroot]

I'd suggest you start by downloading an evalutation version, which is free, but time-bombed (180 days)

You could also get a subscription to Technet, which is not very expensive, Unlimited access to MS software for evaluation and testing purposes.

Paul DeGroot

Principal Consultant

Pica Communications

"Solving the Microsoft Licensing Puzzle"

[hbato]

Yes, that is true, I would also suggest that you use an evaluation copy of windows. This will allow you 180 days of free use of software (any version:from standard to datacenter) plus you can re-arm (reset) your evaluation up to 2 times which in total is ~540 days.

Regards, Harold

[BrennanB]

A majority of the users that I would like to use Vmware Workstation now  have Technet subscriptions, I'm going to try and find Technet subscription info to back this up, thanks for the info!