What licenses do I need???

[Tansuma]

Hi all!

 

I've been browsing this site for a few months and finally decided to sign up to post this question

 

I'm working for a secondary school and have been asked by the IT manager to find out if our Microsoft licensing is up to date and correct. I've tried looking at the descriptions of the various licenses out there and also logged into our school VLSC but got REALLY confused REALLY quick!!

 

Out VLSC shows us as having a SELECT PLUS agreement.... What does this actually mean? In idiot speak?

 

We have roughly 15 servers running Windows 2008 / 2012 and maybe 400 PC's and 120 laptops. All client PC's have Windows 7 Professional on and either Office 2010 or Office 2013 Pro.

 

The VLSC layout doesn't make sense to me. Why do we have products listed and available to download (with product keys) which we don't have and have never bought? Or why when buying 10 licenses of Windows does it show as using 10/500 seats?????? WHHHHAAATTT?

 

Sorry for the noob questions. I'm stuck ---- and what is EES?!

 

Thanks in advance

 

Dan

[elliot-w]

The products available in the VLSC which have product keys are products that are covered within your school license and can rightfully use. Usually you can buy your license by seat (PC/Workstation) or per user I think (not 100% on that).

[Tansuma]

So whatever shows in the VLSC with product keys, we are allowed to use? I guess that means its covered under the Select Plus agreement?

 

Also, possibly a question that answers itself, if we purchased X number of windows server licenses and Y number of windows 7 licenses; do we also need to have Y number of server CAL's on top? Or is that included in either X or Y?

 

Sorry, licensing is just so confusing!!!

[snagrat]

The products available in the VLSC which have product keys are products that are covered within your school license and can rightfully use. Usually you can buy your license by seat (PC/Workstation) or per user I think (not 100% on that).

 

Not true.

 

I have product keys for all the MS software but I am not licensed to use it.

 

I think some of it will depend on when you took the license out. They used to give keys and CDs for all software even if you were not licensed for it.

[tmcd35]

Be careful basing you licenses on what is included in the VLSC. Who are you buying your licences from and are they subject to a group discount? For example if you purchase them through your LEA or via a reseller who processes them through your LEA's agreement. In these cases the VLSC will show software licensed to other institutions that have been purchased through the same license agreement and you may not be entitled to use that software for your institution without purchasing additional licenses.

 

First check through filing cabinets and trawl e-mail archives for any records of licenses bought. Then contact your usual reseller and ask them to check their records on what licenses they have sold you. Finally contact your LEA and see if they hold any records of licences you have bought in the past.

 

If in doubt, the best way to cover your backs is to look at EES. It's an annual subscription based on the number of staff employed by the school and can cover all your desktop licence requirements - Windows, Office, CALs, even AV and useful extras like SCCM. Servers always need licencing separately so if you can't find suitable licences they can be included in the EES subscription at extra cost, or bought as separate perpetual licences depending on your planed upgrade cycle.

 

In short - contact your resellers and ask them, if in doubt sign up for EES.

[LeMarchand]

Not true.

 

I have product keys for all the MS software but I am not licensed to use it.

 

I think some of it will depend on when you took the license out. They used to give keys and CDs for all software even if you were not licensed for it.

 

I have to say, I thought that this was the case too.

 

Why they can't filter out the software you aren't licensed for, I don't know.

[tmcd35]

Also, possibly a question that answers itself, if we purchased X number of windows server licenses and Y number of windows 7 licenses; do we also need to have Y number of server CAL's on top? Or is that included in either X or Y?

 

You need to purchase Y number of CAL's. Each device (be it printer, server, desktop, access point) that actively uses resources provided by the server needs a CAL. The only time CAL's are included in the cost are with the Core and Premium Desktop Suites under EES.

[witch]

@Tansuma

You will need server CALs as well AFAIK

[Boredguy]

Select license generally provides you with the products and keys so you can install it, but you still need to ensure you purchase the license to actually use it. I believe it is so you can test the product for a limited time before going ahead with licence purchase (or at least what I think I read many years ago on the documentation)

 

Windows Server licence just lets you install that version onto 1 physical computer (I won't go into the VM rights for simplicity)

Windows 7 licence just lets you install that version onto 1 physical computer

Server CALs (Client Access Licences) are required for every device that will be connecting to your Windows server.

 

So if you had 2 Windows 2008 Servers and 100 Windows 7 Clients, you would need 100 Server 2008 or 2012 CALs

 

EES-OVS is an educational scheme that makes some of the licencing a bit easier in that your not counting specific workstations for each licence but instead the number of staff you employ that use a computer for a minimum of 200 hours during the year (FTE). This scheme allows upgrade rights for the workstation operating system to the latest version, as well as latest version of Office and the standard CALs that a normal network would use. It's best to actually discuss with a MS reseller such as @Millgate @Stone_Charlie or any of the other suppliers to see what it would cost you per year (since unlike select it is an ongoing payment)

[Millgate]

Hey Dan,

 

Feel free to drop me an email with your details etc and I'll get one of our MS gurus to give you a buzz

 

Luke

[Tansuma]

You need to purchase Y number of CAL's. Each device (be it printer, server, desktop, access point) that actively uses resources provided by the server needs a CAL. The only time CAL's are included in the cost are with the Core and Premium Desktop Suites under EES.

 

Printers and access points too!? Oooooo.....kayyyy..... Thanks for all the info above. I think I need to speak to our reseller (pugh.co.uk) and see what we have/haven't got, and the LEA.

 

You'd think Microsoft would make the VLSC more understandable about what you actually have, rather than showing a bunch of products you've never had or will have.

 

Is the EES good value then? Is there a rough price per FTE I can base it on?

[Boredguy]

Over the last few years, we've paid on average £32 per FTE for the standard EES platform (that's just the core cals) It was certainly more cost effective for us as we were upgrading to Windows 7 at the time.

 

There is a threshold where EES can be more expensive than Select but that depends on your staff numbers and software refresh cycle.

[tmcd35]

Printers and access points too!? Oooooo.....kayyyy.....

 

Probably/usually not - but it does depend on how they are set up. I'm not sure if there is an exception for straight LDAP authorisation, but if the device makes use of a service offered by the server then it should have a CAL. An example might be a photocopier scanning to a shared folder.

 

Is the EES good value then? Is there a rough price per FTE I can base it on?

 

Depends on individual circumstances, but usually very good value. General rule of thumb - if you have more computers than staff then EES is the best way to go for desktop licensing. For server licenses it really does depend on your planned upgrade cycle - EES is usually worth while if you upgrade your server OS/databases less than every 6 years, or there about.