Running MSDN Software on Third Party Shared Servers

Most MSDN software can now (from 1 June 2013) be run on authorised third party shared servers, including Windows Azure. Both the Product Use Rights (page 56) and the Visual Studio/MSDN Licensing Guide (page 13) have been updated. Get to all of the Microsoft Licensing Guides in one place at: http://bit.ly/182fp9f

Azure Virtual Machines and RDS

Wording added to the July 2013 PUR (page 88) about using Remote Desktop Services with Windows Azure Virtual Machines (although expect more changes next year):

  • RDS Subscriber Access Licences purchased through SPLA MAY be used to deliver graphical user interface functionality on Windows Azure virtual machines
  • RDS CALs purchased through Volume Licensing programs may NOT be used with Windows Azure virtual machines
  • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure functionality may NOT be used on Windows Azure virtual machines

Azure Webcast

Want to learn a bit about Windows Azure licensing? This Microsoft Academy webcast from June 2013 is worth a listen to: http://bit.ly/18pP27j

Useful article on changes to Azure-hosted desktops licensing

There have been some changes to the licensing for Windows Azure so that RDS can now be used to host session-based desktops on Windows Azure VMs. Mary Jo Foley gives a nice overview of the changes: http://zd.net/12X9CKV

Really good Azure Licensing FAQ page

Not got into Windows Azure Virtual Machine licensing yet? Have a look at this great FAQ page and much more will become clear. Some good questions on Windows Server, SQL and RDS licensing: http://bit.ly/14eghFM