OEM OS work with the VMware ?

[Lahore_Pakistan]

Hi

Just a very quick question .... will the existing OEM OS work with the VMware or

does the i have to purchase & install full MS Licensed Operating Systems?

Do anyone have any document on this?

Regards

LP

[dmaster]

so far i know this should work fine. windows virtual machines are not aware that they have been virtualized and the operating system has not been altered.

[asatoran]

More specifically, while an OEM copy of WIndow can be installed in a virtual machine, a branded OEM version of Windows XP or Vista (i.e.: from HP or Dell) might not be able to complete the activation process because they look for specific hardware. "Whitebox" OEM versions usually can be activated in a virtual machine.

[Jasemccarty]

Some have seen success using HP OEM installation CD's (on HP hosts) with the following setting in the .vmx:

SMBIOS.REFLECTHOST = "TRUE"

Jase McCarty

http://www.jasemccarty.com

Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

[TomHowarth]

this does however mean that the original hardware should be used

Tom Howarth

VMware Communities User Moderator

[Jasemccarty]

Well... One could use an HP branded disk to install, whatever OS, on a different HP system. And it could theoretically work, depending on how the SLP process reads the Bios of the other machine.

BUT... This is still a violation of the EULA, I think.

Jase McCarty

http://www.jasemccarty.com

Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center

(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

[TomHowarth]

you are correct it would be a Breach of the EULA. unless it is the original hardware

Tom Howarth

VMware Communities User Moderator

[Lahore_Pakistan]

Hi

Thanks for your reply. I think we don’t need new licenses for that as I have tried one its working. VM has no idea for underlaying hardware presented by ESX.

Regards

[dmaster]

Hello Lahore_Pakistan,

Good to hear that you don't need more licenses..

don't forget to award usefull and correct questions.

[daniel_uk]

I'm with Tom on this one, not quite sure MSFT would count you as licensed if they came in.

Would have got away with this if you was a VDI early adopter, I heard once that a certain insurance company that Vmware use as a VDI case study bought a single OEM XP license for a DL360 to cover any VDI images.