Free Virtualization for SA Customers
 Joe Wilcox
A benefit is something, no matter how seemingly small. For Software Assurance subscribers that would be server virtualization. |
This afternoon, I spoke with Julius Sinkevicius, Windows Server group product manager, about 2008 version SKUs and virtualization technology Hyper-V.
"If you have Software Assurance today, you're going to get the hypervisor version by default," he said.
Microsoft will offer Windows Server 2008 SKUs with and without Hyper-V. SKUs with Hyper-V cost $28 more than those without. The price of the additional benefit might not seem much to customers but it could mean more to Microsoft and its partners. Virtualization is an increasingly hot market, spurred on by server consolidation. Hyper-V inclusion could snatch away potential customers from VMware, among other virtualization developers.
The added Software Assurance benefit underscores how Microsoft has more closely aligned product features with annuity licensing contracts. The checklist of extras has significantly increased since the 2003 product release cycle. For example, businesses with Software Assurance got Windows Server 2003 R2 for no extra cost. Non-subscribers paid as if Microsoft released a new version.
See eWEEK review: "'Viridian' Is Huge Draw for Windows Server 2008"
The decision-tree for Microsoft software acquisition increasingly must include annuity licensing. The break-even point where a full version of software costs more than Software Assurance is about three-and-a-half years for most Microsoft products. But as Microsoft differentiates more features based on licensing, the three-and-a-half-year rule becomes a less-reliable measure.
Another licensing change removes a potential price barrier. Previously, businesses had to license two virtualization instances, one for the server partition and another for the applications. Microsoft has modified licensing such that customers pay for only one virtualization instance.
"Customers have to run two licenses, and now they only have to pay for one," Sinkevicius said. Caveat: The benefit only applies to the Microsoft virtualization stack.
Another change: Microsoft will provide Windows Server 2008 customers with DVDs for 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The change is designed to simplify setup and the decision-making process for which version to deploy when.
I couldn't resist giving Sinkevicius a hard time about the Feb. 27 Windows Server 2008 launch date. C`mon, why not Feb. 29, since 2008 is a leap year? Sinkevicius said he also lobbied for Feb. 29, but Friday couldn't work for a major product launch. It's bad timing.
Sinkevicius pointed out an interesting use of a leap year launch. Since it comes every four years, why not release a new Windows server version every Feb. 29? Oh, wouldn't that be some wonderful certainty for IT organizations? But he was dreaming out loud, me thinks, and I dreamed along.
As for the Windows Server 2008 release, Microsoft is still on track for a first-quarter release to manufacturing. But a first-quarter RTM raises legitimate questions about availability. Sinkevicius dodged the question, just a little.
"It absolutely depends on the channel that you are in," he said. "Some channels are quicker than others." Volume-licensing customers likely would have the quickest access, while OEM systems could take longer. He didn't say, but I'm guessing no sooner than the second quarter for OEM servers.
Hyper-V's release timeframe is unchanged. The technology will be available in beta version at Windows Server 2008's RTM and official launch. Hyper-V would RTM within "180 days" later, he said.
Related Posts:
- Eight Windows Servers for 2008, Microsoft Watch, Nov. 12, 2007
- Microsoft Makes the Hypercall, Microsoft Watch, Oct. 24, 2007
- New Windows Client and Server Beta, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 24, 2007
- Microsoft and Sun Sitting in a Tree ..., Microsoft Watch, Sept. 12, 2007
- Chatty Microsoft Is All BizTalk, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 11, 2007
- Windows Server Delayed, Again, Microsoft Watch, Aug. 29, 2007
- Microsoft Software: Rent Me, Microsoft Watch, July 20, 2007
- Software Assurance Storm Warning, Microsoft Watch, July 9, 2007
- It's Official: An Unofficial Delay, Microsoft Watch, July 10, 2007
- Got IIS 7.0?, Microsoft Watch, June 27, 2007
- Windows Server at the Core, Microsoft Watch, June 5, 2007
- 'Longhorn' Server Comes When?, Microsoft Watch, June 5, 2007
- 'Longhorn' Named Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Watch, May 15, 2007
- Microsoft's Big Bang Is When?, Microsoft Watch, April, 26, 2007
- Viridian Delay Foreshadows What About Windows 'Longhorn' Server?, Microsoft Watch, April 12, 2007
- Windows Server Takes the Lead, Microsoft Watch, Nov. 16, 2006
Create, Communicate, Collaborate with IT Professionals at Ziff Davis Enterprise IT Link.
Comments (6)
Microsoft sell Hyper-VaporeWare, Again?
Posted by n0neXn0ne | November 12, 2007 9:55 PM
nOneXnOne, the virtulization on Windows 2008 is in fact working , not as the "hyper-vaporeware" that mentioned by you.
To make the argument more convincing , the linux jihads need to start to play around with Windows Server before bashing
Please talk with fact , it is a real world out there
Posted by Marty | November 12, 2007 10:53 PM
Please talk with fact , it is a real world out there. - Marty
The writing is on the wall and Microsoft (and their drones) just do not want to acknowledge the fact that Microsoft's stranglehold on the computer world has seriously weakened. There are serious Microsoft alternatives available now and like it or not the alternatives are here to stay.
Virtualization, like security, is an afterthought for Microsoft. Sad to say that everyone but mindwashed Microsoft drones know this. Even more sad than that is the fact that 95% of all Microsoft drones don't even know what they're talking about when they try to discuss or compare non-Microsoft OSes vs Microsoft OSes.
On a sidenote, I'm surprised that they haven't created more versions of Windows 2008. If Microsoft can create six equally sucky versions of Vista surely they can come up with at least TWENTY sucky versions of Windows Server 2008.
p.s.
Rumor has it that Windows Server 2008 won't come with WGA! Yes, that's right boys and girls it won't. As a way of Microsoft making up to IT people and end-users they ARE DOING AWAY WITH WGA. So in place of WGA you'll receive a MAPP. What is a MAPP you ask? It is an official "Microsoft Anti-Piracy Person" a guy or gal who lives in your server room (or basement) 24/7 to make sure that you don't pirate Windows or use Linux.
I've heard that Microsoft's daily subscription fee for a MAPP is going to start around $50 (approx $1,500 per month). You'll get a single $2 discount if you pay for six months in advance. Also, if you pay for a year in advance you'll get a single $4.32 discount and the collectible Steve Ballmer "monkey dance" action figure with real chair throwing action!
I heard that they had to scrap the Bill Gates "Borg" action figure because of a manufacturing issue in China. The action figure's talk phrases such as "Resistance is futile" and "Buy Microsoft Stocks" came out as "Resist dance is fur of tile" and "My Microturf Socks". It was a pitty that they scrapped the figure because one of my pro-Microsoft (brainwashed) IT friends was really looking forward to getting one.
Posted by ISeeLivePeople | November 13, 2007 11:28 AM
Oops...
The writing is on the wall and Microsoft (and their drones) just do not want to acknowledge the fact that Microsoft's stranglehold on the computer world has seriously weakened. There are serious Microsoft alternatives available now and like it or not the alternatives are here to stay.
The previous paragraph should have been...
The writing is on the wall. Microsoft does not want to acknowledge the fact that their stranglehold on the computer world has seriously weakened. There are serious non-Microsoft alternatives available now and like it or not the alternatives are here to stay.
Posted by ISeeLivePeople | November 13, 2007 11:38 AM
Not vaperware. Could be you are screwed ware.
Reason Virtual Version of windows will run under Xen. Now why will I not run Xen with Linux or Xen with Freebsd under windows. So now I can have one server as a stop gap until Samba 4 comes online.
Basically 1 server with all advantages of Windows and Linux. No more having to choose. Next question what reason do companies have to keep on releasing drivers to there server hardware for Windows. Linux don't release them the Linux guys will reverse the hardware and get them anyhow. Windows does not have teams doing this. You cannot call MS future bright.
Posted by oiaohm | November 13, 2007 7:56 PM
"Software Assurance got Windows Server 2003 R2 for no extra cost."
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the whole point of SA that you get upgrades for the latest software free? Our business have a variation on SA and not only did we get Server 2003 R2 for free, we get everything from Autoroute to Operations Manager, but we are not supposed to use them unless we have a previous license for any of their predecessors of course.
Posted by [XStream] | March 5, 2008 2:22 AM