Archive for the ‘licensing’ Category

Microsoft Licensing Requirements for Desktop Virtualization (VDI) May 29th, 2008 by Patrick Rouse

I’ve been trying to get the License SKUs required for different VDI Deployment Scenarios. Today I worked with a Microsoft Licensing Specialist from CDW and this is what I learned.

If a customer has a PC with an OEM Version of Windows Vista Business, the requirements are:

  • Microsoft SKU “66J-01128″ - Microsoft Windows Vista Business - W/ Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise - software assurance - 1 PC - Open Business - English (License Only)
  • Microsoft SKU “DSA-00050″ - Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop for SA (Subscription)


If a customer has a PC with a downlevel version of Windows, i.e. XP Pro or 2000 Pro, the requirements are:

  • Microsoft SKU “66J-01215″ - Microsoft Windows Vista Business - W/ Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise - upgrade & software assurance - 1 PC - Open Business - Single Language (License Only)
  • Microsoft SKU “DSA-00050″ - Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop for SA (Subscription)


If a customer has a thin client device, regardless of OS the requirements are:

  • Microsoft SKU “DSA-00056″ - Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop for Devices (Subscription)


Optional components:

  • Microsoft SKU “WSB-00090″ - Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) - Includes Microsoft Application Virtualization (Softgrid)


Notes: VECD entitles a single client device to access up to four (4) Virtual Desktops, whether they are running locally in VMware Workstation or Virtual PC, or hosted on a Hypervisor like Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware ESX or VI3, Virtual Iron or Citrix XenServer.

For customers doing VDI on Parallels Virtuozzo Containers, the requirements are the same as for Terminal Services, i.e. Windows Terminal Server CAL & Windows Server CAL, but they don’t have to deal with VECD. Instead Virtuozzo users can purchase Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition to run unlimited number of containers on a single host.

If a customer has a Select or Enterprise Agreement, they should contact ther Value Added Reseller (VAR) for those SKUs.

For more information:

Quest Software accepts no responsibility for the validity of this information. When in doubt, contact your VAR’s licensing specialist or your Microsoft Licensing Representative.