Monthly Archives: February 2016

Azure HUB FAQ

Microsoft release more information on the Azure Hybrid Use Benefit – here are the highlights from the FAQ:

  • Windows Server with SA licences can be used to license Azure Virtual Machines at the base compute rate which is equal to the Linux rate for VMs
  • Each Windows Server licence covers 2 VMs with up to 8 cores, or one VM with up to 16 cores
  • To use the Azure HUB you need to create a Windows VM through PowerShell and set a special property which bills the VM at the base compute rate
  • Gallery images can’t be used with Azure HUB.

Find the full FAQ here: http://bit.ly/1jeqDj6.

Office 365 Branches Renamed

Previously we had Current Branch and Current Branch for Business, now we’ve got the Current Channel and the Deferred Channel.

If you’ve heard of the First Release for Current Branch for Business then that’s now the First Release for Deferred Channel and is essentially a preview of the next Deferred Channel release.

You can find Microsoft’s announcement of these name changes here: http://bit.ly/1O6sn51.

Microsoft Hosting and CSP Newsletter

The January 2016 Hosting and Cloud Service Provider newsletter is out.

It’s got articles on the changes to the Rental Rights and those for self-hosting applications, as well as links to useful CSP resources and training, and a recording of the quarterly licensing webcast run on 20 January, 2016.

Sign up for this free newsletter here: http://bit.ly/1iVEvxV.

Changes to Self-Hosted Applications Rights

If you’re an Independent Software Vendor and you want to provide your own software as a hosted service then one option for doing this is to use the “Self-Hosted Applications” use right available for many products under a Volume Licensing agreement.

There’s a change to this right – previously any solution had to be on dedicated hardware, now page 6 of the February 2016 Product Terms confirms that shared servers are a new delivery option.

Azure Site Recovery Licensing White Paper (January 2016)

This new white paper is aimed at Service Providers giving them an overview of the different licensing options they have if they want to offer services based on Azure Site Recovery to their customers.

It’s a useful reference document with a list of related terms and a generous 28 FAQs.

Find the document here: http://bit.ly/1RhZpFD.

Rental Rights licences discontinued

In the past, if you wanted to rent out PCs with Windows and Office installed, then you needed to acquire additional Rental Rights licences through a Volume Licensing agreement.

No more! Starting from 1 February 2016, these rights are granted with certain licences as long as you agree to the terms in the “Agreement for Leasing or Renting Certain Microsoft Software Products” document.

Essentially, acquire Windows licences through OEM, MPSA, Select Plus or Open, and Office licences through MPSA, Select Plus or Open, and you’re good to go. This site is useful and has a link to the agreement document: http://bit.ly/208VIm4.

EA Transitions are Removed

With the introduction of Online Services in the EA, customers were able to transition to Online Services from their on-premises licenses.

The term “transition” was a reserved word for situations where a customer, in effect, converted their SA licenses into Online Services USLs.

Customers were initially allowed to use special transition licences mid-way through a year which led to some extraordinarily tricky licensing scenarios, and then From SA USLs were introduced which could only be used at Anniversary, with Add-ons being used mid-way through a year – much simpler!

Transitions are now officially at the end of the line; the term was removed from the EA agreement last year, and now it’s gone from the February 2016 Product Terms too.

Microsoft Volume Licensing Newsletter – January 2016

The Microsoft VL Newsletter for January 2016 is released, with a focus on Windows 10.

There’s a reminder of the Windows 10 offerings available through Volume Licensing programs as well as links to the (very good) Licensing Guide, a useful Deployment Guide, and a Windows SA per User at-a-glance two-pager.

Read the archives and sign up for future issues here: http://bit.ly/1SPW0N8.

SA Roaming Rights

End of life for Roaming Rights!

The February 2016 Product Terms confirms that Roaming Rights are to be retired. These rights are often used to allow the primary user of a device licensed for Windows with SA to access a VDI desktop on a third party-owned device used off the customer’s premises. Page 43 confirms that customers with active SA for Windows Enterprise or VDA retain Roaming Rights until the end of their agreement or 31 January 2017 – whichever one comes later.

Mrs Lime (for those of you who know and love her) will be finding out costs for a Windows SA per User Add-on USL.

Reattaching Software Assurance in an EA

There’s new wording added to the February 2016 Product Terms that allows EA customers to reattach SA to licenses. Yes, really!

If the customer transitioned to an Online Service or purchased a From SA USL instead of renewing their SA, then they can reattach SA to a license at anniversary or renewal without purchasing a new license. They need to order SA for the remainder of the enrolment term, and of course they can’t buy SA for more licenses than they had originally.

Read the full terms on page 72 of the February 2016 Product Terms.