Aidan Finn, IT Pro

I have found 3 guides to (try) help you understand how to Windows (including Windows 8 and older versions via downgrade rights) for desktops, companion devices, and VDI via volume licensing in the business:

• The Volume Licensing Guide for Windows 8
• Windows 8 Volume Licensing Guide For Partners
• Microsoft Licensing for the Consumerization of IT – this one has a bunch of scenarios

I actually was going to try write a longer post detailing lots of the details of Windows 8 licensing butitseemslikepunctuationandwritingunderstandableEnglishhavefallenoutoffavourinRedmondThelanguagein

theseguidesespciallythebitsaboutCSLBYODappsideloadingandVDIrequiresyoutofigureoutwheretoputinthefull

stopsorperiodsifyouareAmericanandhiringateamofconstitutionallawyerswhowillprobablyneveragreeontheprecise

detailsofthelicensingsoImnotgoingtodareofferanyadviceviathisblogonthisstuffthatsomeonewillmistakenlyconsider

asbeinglegaladvicewhichitwouldnotbeThisissuchapityconsideringhowSystemCenterandWidnowsServershow

howlicensingcanbesimplified

That’s my own, personal, non-work-related opinion on that.

Some interesting bits:

• If you want to dual boot a PC, then you need to cover it with Software Assurance (SA)
• SA also gives you rights to 4 VMs on the licensed Windows 8 machine.  That’s not new; I remember it from way, way back from when I first started blogging.
• OEM licensing can only downgrade to Windows 7 (except Ultimate) or Windows Vista.  You need a volume license upgrade to downgrade to XP.
• You need to look at Companion Subscription Licensing (CSL – available to buy for PCs covered by VL upgrade with SA) if you’re looking at Windows To Go or VDI from additional (non primary) devices such as tablets or smartphones.

This stuff is complex.  Please consult with your LAR (if you are buying Select/Enterprise Agreement), reseller (if you are buying Open/OV/OVS) or distributor (if you are reselling Open/OV/OVS) if this stuff is unclear (which it will be if you are not an aforementioned constitutional lawyer).

Copyright Warning

This blog post is the property of Aidan Finn (@joe_elway / http://www.aidanfinn.com) and may not be reused in any manner without prior consent of Aidan Finn. You may quote one paragraph from this blog post if you link to the original blog post.

Related posts:

1. Licensing The Sideloading Apps on Windows 8 PCs
2. Windows 8 VDA Licensing For VDI
3. Reminder of Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 Licensing For VL Purchases
4. Windows Server 2012 Virtualisation Licensing Scenarios
5. Windows Server 2012 Licensing In Detail