Creating a well thought out and well tuned Windows XP Template is important for a successful VDI implementation.  My intent for this whitepaper is that it will guide you in developing a solid VDI Desktop standard for your organization.  Included in this whitepaper is information to assist in reducing your Windows XP footprint and to apply best practices to the Windows XP configuration for improved performance, manageability, and reliability of your VDI environment.  Since computer environments can vary from one organization to another, it is recommended that all best practices listed in this document be tested in your test VDI environment to ensure that it is helps and not hinder your VDI solution.

Download the whitepaper here: Creating a VDI Windows XP Template.

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:

• Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop Licensing Options
• Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop Licensing for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Quick Reference Card

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.