I'm relatively new to virtualization, I've started using it at work. There its been great to keep an ultra clean host OS and install required software on a per project basis creating new VMs every time. I want to use this at home because I have some software that I use for school and different stuff that is just loading my computer with unnecessary stuff that I only need when I'm using that program. I'm confused on how this works with Windows 7, however. Will my home use Win 7 Ultimate allow me to create multiple VMs from it or do they require a license for each one? Obviously I'm not willing to buy a new OS for each VM. Maybe you guys can shed some light on this for me. Thanks!
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OS Licensing
- Thread starter jsteinm1
- Start date
Only windows server 2008 Enterprise and datacenter edition allow you to create free VM's hosted on that particular OS.
Enterprise allows you 4 addition OS license when running on Hyper-V (may be 5)
Datacenter will allow you unlimited Server OS VM's running on the Hyper-V host
Windows 7 does not cover any additional VM operating systems, all licenses must be purchased individualy. And for that fact, the only actual way to license win 7 in a virtual environment is throught a Microsoft VDA license with is a 3 year subscription.
Not saying it "can't" be done other ways, but that is the way MS makes you do it
Enterprise allows you 4 addition OS license when running on Hyper-V (may be 5)
Datacenter will allow you unlimited Server OS VM's running on the Hyper-V host
Windows 7 does not cover any additional VM operating systems, all licenses must be purchased individualy. And for that fact, the only actual way to license win 7 in a virtual environment is throught a Microsoft VDA license with is a 3 year subscription.
Not saying it "can't" be done other ways, but that is the way MS makes you do it
I remember a while back that I installed Win7 on a new computer with a disc that I had prior to buying a new license. After 30 days, it prompted me to activate every time I started my computer but never actually locked me out or anything. I ran this way for a about 2 weeks before I bought a license. Do you know if I could run a few VMs this way without activating them? Or would it finally lock me out after so long?
I'm trying to do this in a legal avenue, but it is not feasible for a consumer to shell out $200 for each VM. Ridiculous.
Actually another method that I would love to do is use Linux for my VMs. I have next to no experience with Linux or where it stands today, but is there any way that I can run Windows programs these days (for example, SolidWorks or Altium that i use for school)? Or is this not a possibility?
I'm trying to do this in a legal avenue, but it is not feasible for a consumer to shell out $200 for each VM. Ridiculous.
Actually another method that I would love to do is use Linux for my VMs. I have next to no experience with Linux or where it stands today, but is there any way that I can run Windows programs these days (for example, SolidWorks or Altium that i use for school)? Or is this not a possibility?
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2002
- Messages
- 3,963
Just to make one clarification to K1pp3r's post, Windows Server Enterprise and Datacenter allow 4 and unlimited VM's on any hypervisor. It doesn't have to be Hyper-V.
EDIT: And with Windows Server Enterprise, if you do not use the Server OS for the Physical server (example, you are using it on ESX) you are still limited to 4 VM's. It doesn't give you the rights to run 5 VM's of Enterprise. Now for Datacenter this doesn't matter because of the unlimited VM rights.
EDIT: And with Windows Server Enterprise, if you do not use the Server OS for the Physical server (example, you are using it on ESX) you are still limited to 4 VM's. It doesn't give you the rights to run 5 VM's of Enterprise. Now for Datacenter this doesn't matter because of the unlimited VM rights.
I am pretty sure that due to the snafu that was Windows Vista, when Microsoft shipped Windows 7 (might only be Enterprise version) that you are permitted to run 1 instance of XP in MS Virtual PC. That's about all you're going to get for "free" from MS.
Even in big boy corporate land, if you run something like VMWare or Citrix, and you are accessing VM's from a thin client, MS charges you about $84 per VM if you are accessing a Windows OS. You get around this by using existing PC's and just change the boot order to boot from network before HDD or use something like Citrix Receiver.
Even in big boy corporate land, if you run something like VMWare or Citrix, and you are accessing VM's from a thin client, MS charges you about $84 per VM if you are accessing a Windows OS. You get around this by using existing PC's and just change the boot order to boot from network before HDD or use something like Citrix Receiver.