Windows OS Lease? How ?

designpc · 4th December 2007

Hi all,

Now I dont run any Windows servers at the moment, but I was wondering how hosts do it?

For example do they lease the licence from MS?
Or do they lease from other companies who deal with MS licencing?
Or do you have to buy the Server 200x licence out right at several £hundred?

You always see dedi's for rent with "+£15 for Windows 2003 Server" advertised.

I just wondered how this is financed.

Thanks

Ricky · 4th December 2007

THIS USER HAS BEEN GAGGED BY THE FORUM HOSTS FOR SPAM OR BREAKING THE RULES...
User will be ungaged in around 65 hours from this post.

JamesSykes · 4th December 2007

Basically with SPLA you pay a monthly fee for each server license. You only pay if the license is in use. So if you needed 100 servers one month and only 10 the next you have the flexibility to do so.

WIN2K3 STD is something like £12/month at the moment.

designpc · 4th December 2007

Hi,

Thanks for the above info.

Is their resellers of this, say for example I just wanted 2 or 3 Win2k3 licences, and not have to sign up to Microsoft Hosting or Partner Program.

Thanks

JSamuel · 4th December 2007

Doesn't work like that I'm afraid.
As you recieve a VLK to use a multiple number of times, if you resold that key (which you are not allowed to do) you would effectively be selling unlimited licensing, with no way of tracking or terminating.

designpc · 4th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSamuel

Doesn't work like that I'm afraid.
As you recieve a VLK to use a multiple number of times, if you resold that key (which you are not allowed to do) you would effectively be selling unlimited licensing, with no way of tracking or terminating.

I see, so what is the best way to have 3 servers running Win2k3 in a hosting enviroment? Just buy outright?

Thanks

designpc · 4th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSamuel

Doesn't work like that I'm afraid.
As you recieve a VLK to use a multiple number of times, if you resold that key (which you are not allowed to do) you would effectively be selling unlimited licensing, with no way of tracking or terminating.

Ah I see, so what do you suggest is the best way to get a few windows servers running in a DC (Bluesquare). Just buy the licence out right?

Thanks

JamesSykes · 4th December 2007

I'm pretty sure your VLK's are generated for your company specifically too right?

Karl · 4th December 2007

Yep, VLKs are company specific.

The only way you can do it without setting up under SPLA yourself is to rent servers that come with Windows from a company that uses SPLA themselves. It's against the license terms to use a purchased boxed copy (or any other license method other than SPLA) to provide services to your customers.

JSamuel · 4th December 2007

Edit:
Karl beat me to it.

Karl · 4th December 2007

Errr Joel, no, you can't license it like that if you want to use it for hosting - SPLA is the only way you can be legally licensed for use with hosting - and even then it's not always cut and dry, as you start coming upon TS SALs, Per CPU etc.

JSamuel · 4th December 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl

Errr Joel, no, you can't license it like that if you want to use it for hosting - SPLA is the only way you can be legally licensed for use with hosting - and even then it's not always cut and dry, as you start coming upon TS SALs, Per CPU etc.

Yea I just realised that.
I was thinking of different licensing, then realised it was SPLA and Hosting-specific.