NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS
10/12/05
Today's focus: Figuring out Microsoft licenses is hungry work
Dear networking.world@gmail.com,
In this issue:
* You pay for Microsoft upgrade protection - but where are the
upgrades?
* Links related to Windows Networking Tips
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
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GRID SURPRISE
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_______________________________________________________________
Today's focus: Figuring out Microsoft licenses is hungry work
By Dave Kearns
Speaking of upgrades, as we were in the last issue, it's fall
again and time to revisit the annual game called "figuring out
Microsoft licenses." Microsoft takes its basic server operating
system and packages it in myriad ways. Take a look at this list
of offerings, all based on Windows Server 2003:
* Windows Small Business Server 2003
* Application Center
* BizTalk Server
* Commerce Server
* Content Management Server
* Exchange Server
* Host Integration Server
* Identity Integration Server
* Internet Security and Acceleration Server
* Live Communications Server
* Operations Manager
* Project Server
* SharePoint Portal Server
* Speech Server
* SQL Server
* Systems Management Server
* Virtual Server
* Windows Storage Server
* Class Server
* MapPoint Location Server
* BackOffice Server
* Proxy Server
* Site Server
* Windows 2000 Server
But it's not enough for Redmond to offer all of these
permutations and combinations, oh no. It also has to devise a
multitude of different licensing programs for each. There's Open
License, Select License, Open Value and "Open Value Company-wide
and Subscription." There's also the one known variously as:
Select License, Software Asset Management, Enterprise Agreement,
Enterprise Agreement Subscription which comes in different
prices based on different quantities:
* 250 Software Assurance licenses
* 2,500 SA licenses
* 6,000 SA licenses
* 15,000 SA licenses
Don't believe me? Download the chart called "Software Assurance
Benefits Comparison Chart"
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt8303> which my Network World
colleague John Fontana discovered. But brew a fresh pot of
coffee and open a new box of doughnuts before digging into it -
it'll take a while to figure out which programs' benefits might
be right for you. This year. It'll all change, of course, by
next fall.
Maybe Gartner Group was on to something when it said that of the
upcoming release of Windows Vista it believes: "that Microsoft
wishes to release a new version of Windows by year-end 2006 to
shore up revenue and appease customers that paid for Software
Assurance on the client OS under Enterprise, Open or Select
agreements." (You can read more about Gartner's comments in the
previous issue of this newsletter.) I imagine that if you've
taken the time to figure out the Software Assurance spreadsheet
and chosen what you feel is the right program for your
organization that you'd want to have some tangible results also.
It isn't really funny, though. Organizations are paying out lots
of real money for upgrade protection but haven't seen an upgrade
for quite a long time. Maybe its time to re-evaluate what your
software dollars are buying for you.
The top 5: Today's most-read stories
1. Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine has serious bug
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt8616>
2. Bechtel says move to IPv6 is all about business
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt8617>
3. You won't find this book on Oprah's list
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt8618>
4. IETF effort promises fewer net failures
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt8619>
5. The ABCs of SOA <http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt8620>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns
Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.
Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these
respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.
Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by HP
Free Whitepaper, Traffic Management; From The Network Core To
The Network Edge
Traffic management becomes critical as your network
infrastructure expands to support different types of traffic and
users. Most traffic management solutions have serious
limitations: too expensive, difficult to use, and overly taxing
on bandwidth. However ProCurve Networking by HP addresses these
requirements, overcomes the limitations of other solutions, and
gives you valuable insight into LAN performance. Click here to
download HP's Traffic Management Whitepaper
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=117272
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS
Breaking Windows networking news from Network World, updated
daily: http://www.networkworld.com/topics/windows.html
Operating Systems Research Center:
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/operating-systems.html
Archive of the Windows Networking Tips newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
Network World Technology Insider on Security: Is Encryption the
Perspective?
Encryption won't solve all your security issues but these days
there is no excuse for not safeguarding your organization's
sensitive data. From Clear Choice product coverage to new
regulations and high-profile breaches, this Technology Insider
on Security covers it all. Click here to read now:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt7472>
_______________________________________________________________
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