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Demystifying Microsofts Virtual Desktop Licensing, Microsoft Volume Licensing

Demystifying Microsofts Virtual Desktop Licensing Demystifying Microsofts Virtual Desktop Licensing
Prepared by the Softmart Analytics Advantage Team

Open License, Open Value, Select Agreement, Select Plus Agreement, Enterprise Agreement, Enterprise Open License, Open Value, Select Agreement, Select Plus Agreement, Enterprise Agreement, Enterprise Agreement Subscription Agreement Subscription
October 2010 Summary The term desktop virtualization refers to the process of separating a users desktop OS, programs, applications, and data from their desktop device. Instead of residing on their local device, a users desktop software is deployed on a central server and presented to the user on his or her workstation across a LAN or internet. This desktop presentation may be viewed from a traditional desktop workstation, laptop, or thin client. The term often used to refer to this computing model is VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) and generally refers to all the hardware (servers and workstations) plus software needs to operate a virtual desktop environment. Benefits of this computing model include easier deployment of new software, longer lifecycles for desktop hardware, simplified software updates, and greater overall control of the user experience. However, there is a price for this facilitated administration: virtualization software must be deployed, and new licensing rules apply. This white paper will discuss the new licensing model for Microsofts virtual desktop software. rights to access the virtual desktop goes away. This is a very important consideration at renewal time.

Licensing for PCs and Laptops One way to think of VDA licensing is as a Software Assurance benefit. In fact, if your primary workstation is a PC or laptop, the only way to assign a VDA license would be through active Software Assurance. In most cases this will mean also purchasing a Windows 7 upgrade license. Keep in mind that if you let your SA lapse, your VDA subscription expires too. At which time, you legal 1 Softmart Analytics Advantage Team analytics@softmart.com (610) 518-4381

Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) In July 2010 Microsoft introduced its VDA licensing, formerly VECD (Virtual Enterprise Centralized Desktop). VDA is a subscription that allows a customer to create a virtual Windows desktop on a central server and stream that desktop presentation to any client device, for instance laptop, PC, thin client. VDA licensing is device-based, not userbased, although the primary user does enjoy some roaming privileges that will be discussed later. Microsoft requires one VDA license for every primary device that will be accessing a virtual desktop.

Contractors and Other Non-Corporate-Owned Machines If you have contractors or other non-employee users who you want to have their own virtual Windows desktop in your environment, these non-corporate-

Licensing for Thin-Clients Thin clients are different than PCs and laptops in that they do not have a qualifying Operating System. In other words, Windows 7 or XP would not be installed directly on a thin client. Traditionally, the OS is a light or embedded operating system. These embedded operating systems do not qualify for a traditional Windows Upgrade, and therefore do not qualify for SA. Microsoft offers a special VDA subscription for devices that fall into this category. Just as with the VDA that is acquired through SA, this VDA subscription must be renewed at the end of your agreement. If it is not renewed, your legal right to access your virtual Windows desktop expires.

owned devices will also require a VDA subscription (non-Software Assurance). In this case there is no need to purchase the Windows upgrade license or SA. You need only keep the VDA subscription current to allow the user access to their desktop.

Demystifying Microsofts Virtual Desktop Licensing, Microsoft Volume Licensing

Scenario #1: You have 100 users whose primary devices are PCs (100 PCs). You want each user to have a virtual desktop. In this case you would buy 100 Windows 7 Pro upgrade licenses with SA. The Software Assurance assigned to each workstation allows you to assign a VDA subscription to these devices.

have a corresponding VDA license. Therefore, if a primary user travels to a remote office, the devices in that office must have VDA licensing if he or she wishes to access their virtual desktop. Also, roaming rights do not extend to those VDA licenses without a primary user. So in a case where several users are sharing one workstation, these users do not qualify as primary users with roaming rights. Only one primary user may be assigned for each licensed device.

Scenario #2: You have 100 users who access 150 devices (125 PCs and 25 thin clients). You want each user to have a virtual desktop. Even though you only have 100 users, you still need 150 VDA subscriptions. In this case you would buy 125 Windows 7 Upgrade licenses with SA to cover the PCs (again, the SA includes the VDA licensing), and 25 VDA subscriptions. Roaming Rights In the previous sections we have covered the licensing model for your primary devices, but users may occasionally need to access their virtual Windows desktop from a 3rd party device, such as home computer, laptop, or internet kiosk. To accommodate these users, Microsoft grants Roaming rights for all VDA licensing Though the licensing is tied to the users primary device, VDA licensing allows the user roaming privileges. In other words, the primary user of that device (and there may only be one per device) is allowed to access their virtual desktop from any noncorporate-owned device in addition to their primary device. Therefore, VDA licensing would allow a user whose primary device is covered by VDA, to access their desktop from a home computer, or any noncorporate-owned device such as a home PC, home laptop, or internet kiosk.

It is important to note that all corporate-owned devices that are accessing a virtual desktop presentation streamed from a central server must 2 Softmart Analytics Advantage Team analytics@softmart.com (610) 518-4381

Other Microsoft Licensing Required Your primary user is connecting to a Windows Server, so they will need a Windows Server CAL. If the user will be using the extended roaming rights of their VDA license, you want to make sure this is a User CAL, not Device. If you primary use is connected to email, SharePoint, SQL, etc. he or she will need these CALs as well (unless SQL is licensed in per processor mode). Again, if the user will be using the extended roaming rights of their VDA license, you want to go with User CALs. If you are accessing your virtual desktop through Terminal Server, or using Citrix, then you will need a Remote Desktop Services CAL (also known as Terminal Services CAL). Per User is preferred here as well. If you are accessing Office applications, you have some things to consider. Unlike Client Access Licenses, Office is licensed per device. Therefore, each of your primary devices (be they PCs, laptops, or thin clients), will need an Office license even though Office may not be technically install on the machine. This will allow you to access Office through the licensed machine. If you have a secondary mobile device (i.e. laptop or smart phone) which will also be accessing Office through your virtual desktop, you do NOT need a second Office license. The Product Use Rights of Office state that one license of Office allows you to use the software on your primary device and a secondary mobile device. Having Software Assurance on your Office license also grants you extended roaming rights. Roaming rights allows you access your Office applications through a virtual

Demystifying Microsofts Virtual Desktop Licensing, Microsoft Volume Licensing desktop from any non-corporate owned device, such as a home computer or internet kiosk.

Frequently Asked Questions Questions Frequently Asked Q. Do I still need VDA licensing if I am not using Microsoft technology to actually do the virtualization. What if I am using XenDesktop, or VMware to deliver the virtual Windows desktop to a device? A. Yes, you still need the VDA licensing. Dont forget that VDA just gives you the right to virtualize a Windows desktop it does not address the method of delivery. And any time you are virtualizing a Windows desktop (XP, Vista, 7, etc) the only way to do this legally is to have that VDA licensing in place, through Software Assurance or subscription. Q. How many virtual desktops can I access from a VDA licensed device? A. You may connect to up to 4 virtual desktops from one primary VDA licensed device.

Q. Do I have to use 3rd-party software to deliver the virtual Windows desktop to a device? A. No, Microsoft offers software that will do the virtualization and stream to a device, if you are inclined to stay with one vendor for all your desktop virtualization needs.

Q. Does my VDA license tie that virtual desktop to that Windows Server with Hyper-V, or can that desktop be moved from serve to server as needed? A. VDA licensing allows unlimited movement of the virtual desktop between servers and storage within a single datacenter.

Q. What is Application Virtualization? A. As mentioned above, App-V 4.6 is Microsofts application virtualization technology. This is the software tool that streams your applications to workstations, laptops, thin clients, or other devices via LAN or internet. Traditionally, your applications, such as Office, Word, Visio, etc., would reside directly on your desktop device. App-V allows you to remove the application from the desktop device and deploy it on a central server. In this case, the desktop device is merely used to interface with the server and may access and utilize the application that resides on that server. Virtualizing applications in this manner allows organizations to extend the life of their desktop devices, and/or replace their device with thin clients. App-V also facilitates administration of desktop applications, patch and update delivery, and asset intelligence gathering. Q. How do I use App-V in my virtual desktop environment? A. App-V is not sold as a standalone component. It can be purchased as part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) or Remote Desktop Services CAL (formerly referred to as Terminal Services CAL).

Q. If I already own Windows Server with Hyper-V, Windows 7, and Remote Desktop Services CALs, the technically I have everything I need to deploy virtual desktops. Why do I need VDA licensing? A. Again, VDA is not software. VDA simply gives you the legal right to virtualize a Windows desktop and stream it to a desktop device. Without VDA licensing, Windows 7 may only be installed on the primary desktop device that the user is accessing.

Remote Desktop Services CAL allows you to deliver the virtual desktop experience to the users device...

From a practical standpoint, heres what you need: Windows Server with Hyper-V allows you stand up a virtual desktop instance on the server. Windows VDA allows you to create a virtual Windows 7 Enterprise environment for a user to access. App-V allows you to deliver your applications into a VDI environment. 3 Softmart Analytics Advantage Team analytics@softmart.com (610) 518-4381

Q. What is the difference between Remote Desktop Services (or Terminal Services) and VDI? A. Remote Desktop Services provides session-based desktops. Traditionally, when you log into terminal server environment, you are accessing a generic desktop environment established on the terminal server that includes any applications that have been deployed and made available on the server. This is different than desktop-based virtualization in which a user is accessing a specific desktop image that is

unique to that user, and includes the same use experience as if that image resides directly on the desktop device.

Demystifying Microsofts Virtual Desktop Licensing, Microsoft Volume Licensing Q. What is Microsofts VDI Suite? A. The VDI Suite is a bundle of Microsoft products designed to help you optimize your virtual desktop environment. The suite is licensed per desktop device. The Standard Suite includes: Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 System Center Virtual Machine Manager System Center Operations Manager System Center Configuration Manager Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack Remote Desktop Services (desktop delivery only) The VDI Premium Suite includes everything in the Standard Suite plus: Remote Desktop Services (session-based and desktop-based delivery) App-V for Remote Desktop Services Q. I notice that VDA licensing is not included in the VDI Suite. Do I need to purchase that separately? A. Yes

Q. I have a full platform EA right now which will be expiring in the next 12 months. I already own Windows 7 and will probably stay on this for a number of years, but my company is beginning to investigate VDI. Should I renew Software Assurance on Windows? A. Possibly. This is one of those decisions you want to make before renewal time. You need to have a good idea if you will be deploying VDI and how widespread that might become over the next 36 months. Unless you are replacing your workstations with thin clients you have to have active Software Assurance in place to use VDA licensing. This may mean renewing your SA on Windows across the board. Q. I only plan to virtualize a small number of my desktops over the next few years. Do I have to renew SA on my EA? A. Not necessarily. If you are inclined to drop Windows SA from your EA, but still need to virtualize some of you desktops, you may renew that SA through a Select Plus agreement only for those desktops that will be virtualized.

Q. About how many virtual desktops will Hyper-V support? A. Hyper-V has been shown to support up to 170 or so virtual desktops running concurrently.

Q. What are the trends you see in the marketplace in 2010 regarding desktop virtualization? A. The Softmart Analytics Team has been hearing significant buzz from customers desktop virtualization is a topic that comes up frequently in our Discovery sessions with our customers. Some customers are beginning to actively deploy virtual desktops in their environment to a limited degree. But most customers are still investigating and testing the benefits of desktop virtualization in the hopes of moving in that direction over the next 24 months. Very few of the customers we speak to say that they are not considering it, or that they are certain this will not be a consideration for the next 24 to 36 months. We expect the VDI trend to continue and feel that we will see an increasing number of organizations actively deploying virtual desktop, at least to a limited degree, over the next 2 years. 4 Softmart Analytics Advantage Team analytics@softmart.com (610) 518-4381

Q. If the VDA licensing is tied to a particular desktop device, what happens if I need to reassign the license to another device? A. You may only reassign a VDA license to a different desktop device after 90 days, or if is the primary device fails.