Microsoft clarifies virtualization licensing

Microsoft has made it clear that the current version of Windows Server (Windows Server 2003 R2) is licensed for a specific virtualization software (including VMware ESX, VMware VMotion, SWsoft Virtuozzo and Microsoft's own System Center Virtual Machine Manager technology). ). By the end of 2007, the company will have completely new rules for the next version of Windows Server 2008.

Virtualization allows to run multiple operating systems (OS) on the same server through virtual machines. According to the " Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Licensing R2 with Run with Virtualization Technologies " document, Microsoft will license Windows Server 2003 R2 as follows: Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition allows customers to run only one instance of the OS on the real machine. or virtual machine, Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition version allows customers to run simultaneously four virtual instances of an OS license, Windows Server 2003 R2 version of Datacenter Edition allows customers to run simultaneously without limiting the number of OS instances on every processor in a server.

According to spokesperson Patrick O'Rourke of Microsoft, Windows Server 2008 (expected to be released at the end of 2007) will have virtualization technology available but customers still have the option of using third party virtualization technology. with Windows Server 2008.