Can Ya Help A Licensing Newbie Out with MS Licensing?
Okay I've always worked for large organizations in the past, and they've always had enterprise licenses to purchase as much MS software and have as many users connect to it as they wanted to, so I never gave a second thought to it.
Now that I'm in business for a small upstart, licensing is seemingly like a huge headache. My head is spinning trying to figure it out. No wonder we all love open source software so much.
We are using FreeBSD/Apache/MySQL/PHP as our web server. Clients obviously will initially connect through this machine.
It will make calls to a Microsoft server to do video streaming, via Microsoft Media Streamer Server. The streamer will either be on Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Pro, or possibly .NET. As far as we know, MS Media Streamer is free and there are no licensing issues with it at this point. So we are trying to figure out the best possible OS platform to run our streamer on.
After pouring hours over Microsoft's licensing website, I'm more confused than ever.
Here's what I know so far. The servers have 3 different licensing options:
Per server
Per seat
Per processor
In our case, we are only starting out with 2 processors, so I assume the best option is to purchase a 2 processor license! (Last I checked, it was $40 per client connection using a per seat or per server license). The per processor option is also new to me since I last checked also.
Microsoft’s current policy, however, leaves it up to the customer to choose the Server licensing mode that best fits their needs where choices are available.
It is not necessary to notify Microsoft of the licensing mode selected.
But if the licensing modes cost different amounts, how do I not contact Microsoft, I have to purchase the license from them, right?
QUESTION: What current server products are only licensed in the Per Processor mode?
ANSWER: Current server products that can only be licensed in the Per Processor mode are HIS 2000, ISA 2000, BizTalk™ Server 2000, Application Server 2000, and Commerce Server 2000.
Is Microsoft applying licenses only to their application and enterprise servers? Windows 2000 Server will ask for the per seat or per server option upon installation...
Am I making this too complicated? Can I simply buy a 2 processor license, even though there will be up to 100 people, for example, simultaneously connected to the server? (Though technically it's in a gray area -- is the FreeBSD the "client," or is the actual remote person connecting through BSD the "client?")
Has anybody recently had to deal with MS licensing?
Bleh. I need sleep.
Okay, all I've found so far is just more confusion.
It seems everyone is pissed off and confused by MS licensing policies. Personally I think they are shooting themselves in the foot here. The whole point of trying to take away UNIX servers from organizations is that Windows servers are cheaper. Yet the new licensing schemes go against that trend. Microsoft is turning into the very thing it has hoped to replace.
Combine that with the uncertainty of the number of end users on the Web, and this looks like an ill conceived licensing plan.
Understanding EULAs
Some are more restrictive than others, but all serve a simple purpose.
After writing several columns about Windows Product Activation (WPA) in Windows XP and Office XP for in the Windows 2000 Pro UPDATE electronic newsletter, I received a huge amount of email. One thing I realized as a result of this feedback is that very few people understand or care about the End User License Agreement (EULA) that they agree to when they install an OS or software application.
A recent Giga Information Group and Sunbelt Software survey found that more than 80 percent of technology professionals have negative feelings about the new licensing programs, which they believe will increase costs. (Microsoft claims that only 20 percent of its customers will experience higher costs.) More than 35 percent of the respondents said they were considering Microsoft alternatives.
For people using IIS authentication, you can get a Unlimted License for $1000-$2000.
http://www.software-street.com/micwin20inco.html
For those of us using external or anonymous authentication, we don't need to buy ANY licenses, just pay for the OS.
Q. Do I need an Internet Connector license for anonymous Internet Access?
A. Internet users accessing a Windows® 2000 Server anonymously, or using external authentication, do not require Windows 2000 CALs, so there is no need to purchase an Internet Connector license.
Q. I have a UNIX Internet server controlling access to my Windows 2000 Server network. Do I need an Internet Connector?
A. Yes. If Internet users take advantage of server services such as file & print, then a license is still required regardless of whether the server authenticates the users. However, if the server provides only anonymous Web (HTTP) access, then a license is not required.
Our users aren't using Windows file and print services.