Hello all, My apologies if this is a FAQ; I was not able to find the answer in any existing documentation. Furthermore, I know it''s not germane to Xen itself, but I''m hoping that someone else''s knowledge can save me a little bit of time. :-) In order to run Windows (XP, 2003, etc.) as a hardware-virtualized guest of Xen, is it necessary to purchase a retail-boxed edition of Windows, or is there a cheaper option? Can I purchase an OEM edition with, for instance, a hard drive or motherboard that I don''t plan to use with Xen? The cheapest I''ve been able to find retail Windows XP Home and Professional is at Provantage ($183 and $274, respectively). Thanks. -- Kevin DeGraaf _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
> -----Original Message----- > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of > Kevin DeGraaf > Sent: 21 June 2007 16:16 > To: xen-users@lists.xensource.com > Subject: [Xen-users] Windows licensing for Xen > > Hello all, > > My apologies if this is a FAQ; I was not able to find the > answer in any > existing documentation. Furthermore, I know it''s not germane to Xen > itself, but I''m hoping that someone else''s knowledge can save me a > little bit of time. :-) > > In order to run Windows (XP, 2003, etc.) as a > hardware-virtualized guest > of Xen, is it necessary to purchase a retail-boxed edition of Windows, > or is there a cheaper option? Can I purchase an OEM edition with, for > instance, a hard drive or motherboard that I don''t plan to > use with Xen?Let me first say: I''m not a lawyer. You do need A license (per virtual machine - I believe MS allows this to be "per ACTIVE virtual machine", at least for Server versions of the OS, so if you have two virtual machine installed, but only use one of them at any given time, you need only ONE license). There are differences in the support you get from MS whether you have an OEM license or not, but I suspect for your purposes that won''t matter: The OEM license doesn''t allow you to call MS directly to ask for support. The retail version allows you (to some extent) to call MS directly and get help. This probably won''t make ANY difference if you run Windows on top of Xen, as I suspect that MS will not support you in either case (except on things that aren''t difficult to solve where you probably find better help via Google). I think the reason that companies sell OEM edition only with hardware is simply that the contract with MS says that "You''re not allowed to sell this without supplying hardware" - as the real idea of OEM version of Windows is that it''s installed by the OEM and supported by the OEM. -- Mats _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Artur Linhart - Linux communication
2007-Jun-21 16:06 UTC
RE: [Xen-users] Windows licensing for Xen
Hello, As far as I know, If You buy Windows 2003 Server Enterprise x64 R2, then You have the possibility to run it as 4 DomUs on the same machine without the need of the additional licencing - but I think, this is the only Windows version, which somehow deals with the virtualization, as far as I know, for all other You have to have one licence per running VM I do not know if some reseller will sell You and OEM version only if You buy one HDD... But if it is legal, then I would say, You should have the possibility to ude the version in the case you use the given bought HDD on the same computer ;-). But I am also no lawyer :-) With regards Archie -----Original Message----- From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Petersson, Mats Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 5:33 PM To: Kevin DeGraaf; xen-users@lists.xensource.com Subject: RE: [Xen-users] Windows licensing for Xen> -----Original Message----- > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of > Kevin DeGraaf > Sent: 21 June 2007 16:16 > To: xen-users@lists.xensource.com > Subject: [Xen-users] Windows licensing for Xen > > Hello all, > > My apologies if this is a FAQ; I was not able to find the > answer in any > existing documentation. Furthermore, I know it''s not germane to Xen > itself, but I''m hoping that someone else''s knowledge can save me a > little bit of time. :-) > > In order to run Windows (XP, 2003, etc.) as a > hardware-virtualized guest > of Xen, is it necessary to purchase a retail-boxed edition of Windows, > or is there a cheaper option? Can I purchase an OEM edition with, for > instance, a hard drive or motherboard that I don''t plan to > use with Xen?Let me first say: I''m not a lawyer. You do need A license (per virtual machine - I believe MS allows this to be "per ACTIVE virtual machine", at least for Server versions of the OS, so if you have two virtual machine installed, but only use one of them at any given time, you need only ONE license). There are differences in the support you get from MS whether you have an OEM license or not, but I suspect for your purposes that won''t matter: The OEM license doesn''t allow you to call MS directly to ask for support. The retail version allows you (to some extent) to call MS directly and get help. This probably won''t make ANY difference if you run Windows on top of Xen, as I suspect that MS will not support you in either case (except on things that aren''t difficult to solve where you probably find better help via Google). I think the reason that companies sell OEM edition only with hardware is simply that the contract with MS says that "You''re not allowed to sell this without supplying hardware" - as the real idea of OEM version of Windows is that it''s installed by the OEM and supported by the OEM. -- Mats _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users __________ Informace od NOD32 2342 (20070621) __________ Tato zprava byla proverena antivirovym systemem NOD32. http://www.nod32.cz _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
On Thu, 2007-06-21 at 17:32 +0200, Petersson, Mats wrote:> > -----Original Message----- > > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of > > Kevin DeGraaf > > Sent: 21 June 2007 16:16 > > To: xen-users@lists.xensource.com > > Subject: [Xen-users] Windows licensing for Xen > > > > Hello all, > > > > My apologies if this is a FAQ; I was not able to find the > > answer in any > > existing documentation. Furthermore, I know it''s not germane to Xen > > itself, but I''m hoping that someone else''s knowledge can save me a > > little bit of time. :-) > > > > In order to run Windows (XP, 2003, etc.) as a > > hardware-virtualized guest > > of Xen, is it necessary to purchase a retail-boxed edition of Windows, > > or is there a cheaper option? Can I purchase an OEM edition with, for > > instance, a hard drive or motherboard that I don''t plan to > > use with Xen? > > Let me first say: I''m not a lawyer. > > You do need A license (per virtual machine - I believe MS allows this to > be "per ACTIVE virtual machine", at least for Server versions of the OS, > so if you have two virtual machine installed, but only use one of them > at any given time, you need only ONE license).You can get OEM licenses if your a qualified distributor, or happen to be good friends with one. Selling the use of Windows guests wouldn''t cut it as ''distributor'' in the Microsoft book, at least the last time I asked. You can get subscriptions, like you would internally but those prohibit you from distributing. If these are just for internal use, that might be a bit cheaper for you in the long run. Your best bet is to make friends with the OEM guy and avoid having to get 10 - 15 of them when you only need 3. The last time I asked them, they did not make a cheaper version of the license just for use with virtual machines, but that may have changed. As Mats said, OEM is Microsoft for SOL unless its the _installer_itself_ that is breaking. So it may still be of use to you, not sure, and not sure if they closed that loop. If you call them, you might not want to mention Xen. Nothing says you have to, tell them its a [processor type] PC with [memory=], front says "PC Concepts", is that a good brand? :) Hope this helps --Tim _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users