abillybob Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 Hey Guys We stupidly buy all our licenses through our LA at MEGA costs compared to things like the VLSC, and when I first got to the school last year I was re-assured by the technician who was here previously that we had enought Windows 7 and Office 2007 licenses to cover all the computers in the school. At the moment we are having people from the LA inspect the school for things like safety, working conditions and what have you, so I thought just in case it would be wise to do my own investigations to where we stand with licensing. All in all we have around 200 Windows computers of some sort running in the school along with 50 Macs, I called up the LA to find out the numbers, we have 9 Windows 7 licenses and 57 Office 2007 licenses and that is it! As you can imagine we have that installed on more computers! It's my fault really as I shouldn't have trusted him and gone and done my own research and I am a little worried about the consequences if suddenly I get found out, I have reported it to the head teacher and she's not that intrested about it all and is shrugging it off although I'd expect this needs to be taken a lot more seriously and we should look into buying the VLSC! So I suppose what I'm asking is, if it's a big deal am I making mountains out of mole hills? If not and it is a big deal does anyone know how and where I have to go to buy into the VLSC? Thankyou!!
mthomas08 Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 To be honest all the Schools I have worked at and spent time with have never had a software Audit, although I did read on the news it happened once at a School in the midlands I believe. They were forced to remove the software. Now you know of it you can budget for it, spend the money and sort out what you need.
machin05 Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 There are loads of Microsoft resellers that can get you sorted. We use Viglen and they've been fine. An EES license is best for schools. All you'll need is the number of Full Time Equivalent staff (those who work over 200 hours a year) who have access to school computers, and they'll give you a price and get things turned around fairly quickly for you. With the EES license you need an OEM Windows license for each computer (which will have probably come with as standard unless you built the machines yourself) and then you are free to upgrade/downgrade to whatever version of Windows you like as well as installing the latest Office Suite for no extra cost. You can also add your server licences for dirt cheap as and when you expand as the CALs are part of the EES cost. £175 for a 2-Processor (not cores, physical processor) Server Datacenter license. 1
abillybob Posted May 9, 2014 Author Posted May 9, 2014 There are loads of Microsoft resellers that can get you sorted. We use Viglen and they've been fine. An EES license is best for schools. All you'll need is the number of Full Time Equivalent staff (those who work over 200 hours a year) who have access to school computers, and they'll give you a price and get things turned around fairly quickly for you. With the EES license you need an OEM Windows license for each computer (which will have probably come with as standard unless you built the machines yourself) and then you are free to upgrade/downgrade to whatever version of Windows you like as well as installing the latest Office Suite for no extra cost. You can also add your server licences for dirt cheap as and when you expand as the CALs are part of the EES cost. £175 for a 2-Processor (not cores, physical processor) Server Datacenter license. So it's on the terms of the computer must have a Windows OEM license? I never knew this! What about computers that don't have an OEM license sticker on them but did at one point come with a version of Windows? are they still ok or do you have to activate that version of Windows with the OEM license key or do they come pre-activated when downloaded?
teejay Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 Speak to a decent MS Licensing specialist and they will sort you out. There may be another issue is if machines have been bought without Windows licenses as all programs such as EES are upgrade licences from OEM or full retail Windows. EES isn't best for all schools, it really does need some number crunching as Schools Agreement can be more cost effective depending on number of staff and number of computers.
teejay Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 So it's on the terms of the computer must have a Windows OEM license? I never knew this! What about computers that don't have an OEM license sticker on them but did at one point come with a version of Windows? are they still ok or do you have to activate that version of Windows with the OEM license key or do they come pre-activated when downloaded? As long as you have evidence (such as a purchase invoice) that the machine came with an OEM license for Windows then you're ok. There is no need to activate the OEM version, once you have a Volume Licence Agreement you just install that version, you will be issued with MAC and KMS keys to do this.
abillybob Posted May 9, 2014 Author Posted May 9, 2014 As long as you have evidence (such as a purchase invoice) that the machine came with an OEM license for Windows then you're ok. There is no need to activate the OEM version, once you have a Volume Licence Agreement you just install that version, you will be issued with MAC and KMS keys to do this. Ah ok that's better cheers
tmcd35 Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 So it's on the terms of the computer must have a Windows OEM license? I never knew this! What about computers that don't have an OEM license sticker on them but did at one point come with a version of Windows? are they still ok or do you have to activate that version of Windows with the OEM license key or do they come pre-activated when downloaded? The Volume License software are full installs. They don't look or check for any previous OEM licenses. However, the OEM licenses are required has the Volume Licenses are sold as upgrade products. The CoA sticker is the proof of licenses - with out it the machine isn't licensed. These stickers are non-transferable between OEM machines, but are transferable if you pay out for the full retail boxed poduct. Thankfully schools licensing is pretty - lax. If you don't have enough CoA stickers pop on eBay and buy copies of the oldest retail copies you can find that do come with the stickers (I think Win98/Win2000 might be the ones now). But againe they must be retail not OEM. In terms of licensing. If you have less staff than computers then odds on EES will work out the cheapest option (about £40 per member of staff per year). For server software I often find it's cheaper in the long run buying Academic Select Volume Licenses than EES because I don't want/need to upgrade my server software that often. Finally server software, as far as I know, are full products as is Office under the Volume License system. Only the client OS is sold as an upgrade - go figure.
Neil-Millgate Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 Hi @abillybob Give me a call if you like, I will help to explain it for you and the reality vs perception of not being correctly licensed. Neil
abillybob Posted May 9, 2014 Author Posted May 9, 2014 Hi @abillybob Give me a call if you like, I will help to explain it for you and the reality vs perception of not being correctly licensed. Neil Hey Neil Do you guys at Millgate happen to sell this on aswell? Cheers buddy!
strawberry Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 (edited) Hey Guys I have reported it to the head teacher and she's not that intrested about it all and is shrugging it off although I'd expect this needs to be taken a lot more seriously and we should look into buying the VLSC! Is it just me or when they have this sort of attitude the best thing you can do is not spend the money on being safe and legal but spend it on worthless gadgets that make the teachers happy. Makes your life easier if the staff are all running round with shiney and happy. Make sure head knows you've advised that its illegal though. My predessor did exactly the same, no licenses, no new computers as he couldn't be bothered with tendering. But he did issue laptops and installed large screen tvs on every wall he could and dished out the wep key to every man and his dog so was universally loved whilst i'm the b*stard who spent the money on licences and fixing the gaping network holes. Edited May 9, 2014 by strawberry
abillybob Posted May 9, 2014 Author Posted May 9, 2014 (edited) My predessor did exactly the same, no licenses, no new computers as he couldn't be bothered with tendering. But he did issue laptops and installed large screen tvs on every wall he could and dished out the wep key to every man and his dog so was universally loved whilst i'm the b*stard who spent the money on licences and fixing the gaping network holes. Haha story of my life too mate! Edit: I have been in touch with Softcat, does anyone know of them and could let me know what they think about the company? Edited May 9, 2014 by abillybob
Neil-Millgate Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 We certainly do! Plenty of peeps on here have used us for their licening too.
Gibson335 Posted May 9, 2014 Posted May 9, 2014 It took me years of badgering to convince my SLT that they had to take software licensing seriously - there remains this belief that because they live inside the education bubble they are somehow exempt.
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