MSDN Academic Alliance programme

[GrumbleDook]

Anyone had a look at this?

MSDN Academic Alliance

I still trying to work out the licensing implications.

If anyone has heard anything about this can they give me a shout, I will be asking the resident M$ expert at our Select Agreement holder but this does seem to good to be true.

The fact that we can stick Visio et al on the students' home machines ... and get them onto XP Pro, that will mean a lot.

I still can't quite work out the implications for installations within the school. If you are registered for one dept does this mean you can stick whatever chunk of the software onto machines that you run those courses for?

 

I can suddenly see every single machine in the school used for ICT as a discrete subject.

[plexer]

Hmm is that really the answer to all our software licensing issues in one go?

 

£192 a year bargain.

 

If you hear any more information don't forget to share it.

 

Thanks,

 

Ben

[ChrisH]

Hmm somebody point out the catch here apart from its per department :?

[DMcCoy]

Maybe this bit:

 

The MSDN Academic Alliance is an annual membership program for technical departments in the area of Computer Science, Engineering, and Information Systems. As a member, a department receives an MSDNAA subscription that Microsoft platform, servers, and developer tools software. This software may be installed on any number of departmental lab machines. The software must be used for instructional and research purposes, it may not be used to run the infrastructure of the department. In addition, the department's faculty and students may check-out or download the software to install on their personal computers.

 

Q. Our computer lab is used by students from several departments. Can we install the MSDNAA software on the lab computers and allow it to be used by the students from the other departments?

 

A. Yes, one of the goals of the MSDNAA program is to make the software available for students to experiment with in a laboratory setting. Even if a member department shares a lab with another department, the software may be installed on lab computers and made accessible to any student wishing to use the computers. Be aware that member departments do not have the legal right to install the software on lab computers not affiliated with the member department. Additionally, the only students who would have the right to install the program software on their personal computers are those who are taking at least one credit class in the member department

 

 

The retail version of Windows XP is meant to be checked out to students and faculty for installation on their personal machines. Unique product keys may be downloaded from MSDN Subscriber Downloads, and should be provided to each student or faculty member who checks out or downloads Windows XP. Keys are distributed in blocks of 25. You may request additional keys by following the directions on the MSDN Subscription site.

 

Please do not distribute the volume license versions of software to students. We appreciate your cooperation

 

 

and: http://msdn.microsoft.com/academic/program/usageguide/

 

Still looking

[DMcCoy]

Hmm, The more I read the more I am convinced that this is for testing and teaching about windows and ms software, its not 'software to use on a computer'. I would guess using it on the domain counts as infrastructure use and is not permitted (imho of course). You also can't run any servers with it, just test them. Also no office.

[MkII]

Well what department is going to say they won't be affiliated with the technology department if they can have all the MS software you can chuck at them! [ah - I see it in the EULA!]

 

Is it US terminology where they actually mean post 16 colleges?

[GrumbleDook]

Too be honest I am not too worried about office (Open Office if needed) but the inclusion of Visio and Virtual PC make it worthwile for me. With the XP licence too it means I have could have a viable method of using Virtual PC for certain courses running specific installations (a la GNVQ ICT).

[Ric_]

I like the phrase 'naked PCs'

 

The way I read it, I could install any product that was taught in ICT/IT and [due to the thin client nature] anybody on any machine could use said product.

 

Would I be allowed to use all the products (thinking of Visual Studio here) to assist me in network management tasks?

[DMcCoy]

I like the phrase 'naked PCs'

 

The way I read it, I could install any product that was taught in ICT/IT and [due to the thin client nature] anybody on any machine could use said product.

 

Would I be allowed to use all the products (thinking of Visual Studio here) to assist me in network management tasks?

 

The Information Technology staff may not use the software and technologies to develop applications for the academic institution’s infrastructure

[DMcCoy]

I like the phrase 'naked PCs'

 

The way I read it, I could install any product that was taught in ICT/IT and [due to the thin client nature] anybody on any machine could use said product.

 

Would I be allowed to use all the products (thinking of Visual Studio here) to assist me in network management tasks?

 

The Information Technology staff may not use the software and technologies to develop applications for the academic institution’s infrastructure

 

Just use the free visual studio Ric, no restrictions as far as I remember, just some missing components.

[Ric_]

@DMcCoy: If I was to go for this I would probably want to use as many features as possible for better ROI and it would add to the business case.

[RichCowell]

I've just gone through the registration process only stopped at the checkout... don't want to get into trouble for placing orders without the bursar's permission...

 

It doesn't really ask for much info, just the department name, courses offered, number of students in course (all pupils now have to take ICT don't they? so that's all of them) and number of faculties in the dept...

 

I can't find any info about exactly what's offered though, does anyone know if it's listed anywhere?

 

Rick

[Ric_]

@RichCowell: Check out http://download.microsoft.com/documents/uk/academia/msdnaa/administration/downloads/msdnaa-full-version-datasheet.pdf

[GrumbleDook]

Just got off the phone to them ... if you have any queries then prefer them in email and will answer as soon as possible.

[email protected]

 

When I hear back I'll let people know what they say to me.

[MkII]

Good stuff. Thanks Tony!

[griffin]

The MSDN Academic Alliance (MSDN AA) is an annual membership programme that provides inexpensive software solutions for the computer science, software engineering and information systems departments in UK higher and further education.

 

so from this it is not applicable to school but universities and FE collages

 

James

[ChrisH]

It mentions pricing for High Schools as well though.

[RichCowell]

High School was listed when I tried to register and the price was the lower of the 2 stated.

[mprcomp]

I'm really confused about all of this. It does sound good but seems to have alot of red tape surrounding it. I'm a Computing / ICT teacher and this would be useful for students and XP sounds great but you could not install XP on the 30 machines and use in a sense free licenses because this would be classed as being part of the infastructure.

 

So in brief you can get the software but only if it's for testing not for normal every day use. Is that correct?

 

Paul

[MkII]

That's how I read it Paul. But then why would you want to validate the licence - most products have a limited licence of 90 days that would cover that sort of usage [test installs etc] - so what would be the point of this? Seems from that reasoning that this must mean installations that are a little more permanent.

 

Guess we have to wait for some confirmation on that.

[GrumbleDook]

Still waiting to hear back but I have spoken with a friend at a HE establishment who have this (not under his control ... another dept) and if the course was OCR's iPro or you ran M$ courses then installing the OS and hooking it up to the system may be part of the course ... it cannot be a permanent part of the infrastructure ... ie you cannot buy kit with no OS and stick this on.

 

The upgrade from W9x / W2K to XP Pro is covered under the Select Agreement (as is the office pro license) and it is aimed at schools that may have just got office standard (no Access) who want Access ... or students at home.

 

Also waiting to hear back from our Select Agreement holders for info. Anyone would think that it is Friday and they have gone home early.