Tag Archives: Open

Microsoft Open programs overview

There’s an updated (February 2021) Microsoft Open programs overview document.

Just four pages long, it’s a summary of all of the key points of the Open License, Open Value and Open Value Subscription programs, and is updated for the discontinuation of the Open License program in December 2021, and the availability of Open Value offers for education and nonprofit customers in July 2021.

Find this document here: https://bit.ly/3kWBheV

Volume Licensing for Government brochure

If you want an overview of the Volume Licensing agreements available for government customers then you may find this new overview brochure useful.

It covers the agreements available for all sizes of government customers and is up-to-date with changes such as the retirement of the Open License Program announced recently.

Find this brochure here: https://bit.ly/3p5mlN0.

Further changes to the Open License Program

Back in October 2020 Microsoft announced that commercial customers wouldn’t be able to buy through the Open License Program after 31 December, 2021 (http://bit.ly/393LlhZ). A recent article confirms that this will also apply to government, education and nonprofit customers in the same timeframe.

These customers will be able to buy perpetual licences for the traditional on-premises products in CSP in July 2021, and there will be additional Open Value options from March 2021 for nonprofit and education customers to buy licences with SA or to renew SA.

Find the article here: http://bit.ly/39693dH, where it might be worth perusing the FAQs at the bottom of the page.

Open soon to be Closed

Microsoft announce that customers won’t be able to make new purchases through an Open agreement after 31 December, 2021. So, what does that mean for existing customers?

Licences with no Software Assurance

  • Licences purchased through an Open agreement are perpetual and customers can continue to use these licences with no changes. New licences without SA can now be purchased through partners via the Cloud Solution Provider program

Licenses with Software Assurance

  • Existing SA benefits continue to be available until the end of existing agreements with no changes, and then SA can be renewed into a new or existing Open Value agreement

Subscriptions for Online Services

  • Existing subscriptions for services such as Office 365 can be renewed into a new or existing Open Value agreement or through CSP. If customers have purchased subscriptions in an Open agreement and not activated them, then they can still be activated without the need for any active agreements

Azure services

  • Pre-paid tokens are used to pay for Azure consumption services in the Open and Open Value agreements. A new Open Value non-Company Wide agreement can be signed by customers to purchase more tokens to power their existing Azure deployments without the need for any technical migrations

Read the announcement article for customers here: https://bit.ly/3jlRNDL and, if you’re a partner, find more useful information for you here: https://bit.ly/3jlVx8h.

Windows Server 2016 Licensing Guide

There’s a brand new (May 2017) Windows Server 2016 Licensing Guide released by Microsoft. It’s a delicious 31 pages of licensing loveliness, but here are our highlights:

  • Core Packs: there’s confirmation of the new 16-core packs on page 7, but an interesting note points out that although the cost of eight 2-packs equals one 16-pack, they may not have the same point count in Volume Licensing programs where this matters – MPSA or Open, for example. There’s also confirmation on page 21 (Q4) that the licences from a multi-pack can be split across servers, they’re not joined forever at purchase point
  • Nano Server: this is a deployment option available only if you have SA on your Windows Server licences, and page 6 confirms that you also need SA on any Windows Server CALs too
  • Core Migration: there’s a lot of guidance on migrating from Processor-based to Core licences and, in particular, there are a couple of pages of FAQs starting on page 26, including what happens with Core licence grants if you have a subscription agreement, and how the grants appear in your licensing portal
  • Standard or Datacenter: there’s a useful table on page 25 which shows the breakeven point for virtual machines running on a 2-processor server which has 8 cores per processor. You’ll find that if you’re running 13 or more virtual machines on this server, then it’s cheaper to license with Datacenter edition

As usual, you can find this Licensing Guide with all of its Licensing Guide family and friends at: http://bit.ly/MSLicensingGuides.

EMS available in Open from 1 March 2015

Microsoft announce that the Enterprise Mobility Suite will be available through Open and Open Value licensing programs from 1 March 2015. From early March it will also be available to partners as part of the Internal Use Rights licences they receive through the Action Pack or Silver and Gold competencies. Read the announcement here: http://bit.ly/1LQ86lU.

Office 365 through Open: Test and Handout

Want to give your brain a workout and check that you know everything you should on acquiring Office 365 through the Open programs? Take our short test (10 questions) or settle down with a cup of coffee for the full version (30 questions). If you need a helping hand you can download the handout as you start either test.

Short version: http://bit.ly/S89HMR

Full version: http://bit.ly/1pr3Hds.