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YoutubeMicrosoft Finally Recognizes the Importance of Desktop Virtualization with VECD Licensing Change
By Raj Mallempati - Director, Product Marketing
At long last, Microsoft publicly recognizes a shift in IT computing trends as indicated in their recent announcements around desktop virtualization and their changes to VECD licensing to support the adoption of virtual desktop environments. By loosening up the restrictive desktop virtualization license policy (VECD), Microsoft has finally bowed to intensive customer pressure. This validates the acceleration in demand in the desktop virtualization industry that VMware helped start and continues to lead. Microsoft’s move here is extremely positive for the industry.
This decrease in Microsoft licensing costs will decrease the overall CAPEX cost, thus building a better business case for VMware View. Starting July 1, 2010, VECD is going away for customers with Software Assurance (SA) and for those without SA, Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) is available for purchase to allow for VDI environments. Here are the details:- PCs covered under SA will no longer need a separate VECD license, instead this usage right will be included in SA thus eliminating the separate $23 per device fee.
- PCs not covered under SA, thin clients or other clients that cannot run a full Windows OS, customers can purchase VDA for $100 per device/year, a $10 decrease from the previous VECD license price.
- Roaming use rights allows users to be able to access their virtual desktops from secondary devices like home PCS, kiosks and internet cafes without additional licensing costs.
I don't have SA and will be buying these liciences. It's caused me to rethink putting laptops in patients rooms because of the cost of this. This pricing scheme has raised the price of my project to more than laptops would be.
Posted by: Debbie TImmer | 03/24/2010 at 04:00 AM
I'm a consultant with a VMware Partner. The VECD model has slowed adoption considerably, but the VDA model above (for thin clients to access virtual machines) is no better. The VDA rights need to be rolled into the licensing for the OS running in a virtual machine and that needs to include access from thin clients or wherever. A 450 desktop deployment with 450 thin clients would cost you whatever the license for Windows in the VM is plus $45,000 for the right to access those VMs from a thin client.
Posted by: Ryan | 04/01/2010 at 07:00 AM
there are tools out there to wipe out hard disks eliminating the need to pay for 2 OS's. The products will turn a PC in to a thin client. We have done this for our customers that do not have ELA's or SA
Posted by: Mike | 04/16/2010 at 08:55 AM
there are products we have used which wipes out a hard drive creating a thin client out of a PC. This way you will not be paying for 2 OS's. We have done this for a number of customers who do not have SA or an ELA
Posted by: Mike | 04/16/2010 at 08:56 AM
MS VECD license is written such that is does not matter if you have a local Windows OS or not on your physical client device. Any device that accesses a virtual desktop OS must require a VECD. So in theory, when I use my phone and RDP into a Desktop OS, I should have a VECD for my phone. Kind of sucks, but that is what MS is doing.
Posted by: Brian | 04/28/2010 at 02:33 PM
This is a great news that Microsoft finally recognized the importance of desktop visualization and their changes to VECD licensing to support the adoption of virtual desktop environments. I hope this process will bring a great change in licensing costs.
Posted by: Arif | 07/21/2010 at 06:44 AM
We have several clients who are either charitable organisation or academic institutions. THis new VDA licensing model is of ZERO use to them. Microsoft have killed VDI as an option for NFP organisations because they have no option but to pay full commercial price for ever virtual desktop. They can go out and buy (at NFP/academic prices) full PC (with OS license) for far less than if would cost them to buy thin clients and VDA licenses!
Windows VDI is dead for NFP if Microsoft continue to insist on this VDA pricing model.
Posted by: Scott Anderson | 08/12/2010 at 04:02 PM
The VECD model has slowed adoption considerably, but the VDA model above (for thin clients to access virtual machines) is no better. The VDA rights need to be rolled into the licensing for the OS running in a virtual machine and that needs to include access from thin clients or wherever.
Posted by: Refurbished Computers | 11/12/2010 at 01:53 AM
Very commendable step by Microsoft. I appreciate Microsoft's effort. They should continue with more of such user friendly policies.
Posted by: Logo design | 08/07/2011 at 11:56 PM
there are tools out there to wipe out hard disks eliminating the need to pay for 2 OS's. The products will turn a PC in to a thin client. We have done this for our customers that do not have ELA's or SA
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