November 2008 - Posts
Q: (from Peter)
What are the System Center Essentials Standard License requirements for a 10 user office? It is a bit confusing on the CALs. There are CML CAL's, SML CAL's, and CML OSE CAL's. Do all users need at least a CML CAL in order to be managed by Sytem Center Essential counsel?
A:
System Center Essentials comes with 50 Client Management Licenses (CMLs) and 10 Server Management Licenses (SMLs). But to answer your question, yes, every managed desktop needs a CML.
Q: (from John)
I have attended quite a few of your DC area presentations over the past few years and you have said if I get stuck on an issue with Microsoft I could shoot it over to you and you may be able to point me in the right direction. I have a customer that I want to move to the “Small Business Desktop Advantage” SKU across the entire company, (Windows, Office and an SBS license). Here is where it has gotten sticky, my distributor has told me Microsoft is using the same SKU for that as they did say 6 months ago when SBS 2003 had only 1 client license for either Premium or Standard. You told us in DC a few weeks ago that MS has moved to 2 different licenses for SBS 2008, one for standard and one for premium. My distributor also told me this and that is where the problem is. The “Small Business Desktop Advantage” SKU comes with “one (1) SBS licenses” and it doesn’t state on my distributor’s end whether that is now an SBS 2008 Standard or SBS 2008 Premium license in that package. Additionally, there is only one “Small Business Desktop Advantage” SKU package, not separate SKU packages for SBS Premium and Standard 2008.
My distributor called in to one of their Microsoft Licensing reps and he told them to “piecemeal” a license together but that really didn’t answer the question she has about the “Small Business Desktop Advantage” license.
Would you be able to shed any light on one how to proceed with using the “Small Business Desktop Advantage” license? I need an answer in writing from Microsoft as to what the situation is with this license in this transition from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008. Thanks.
A:
This took me some work to find an answer:
The Small Business Desktop Advantage Company Wide SKU specifically is:
- Office 2007 SB Edition
- SBS 2003 CAL
- Windows Vista Business Upgrade
- 3 years of Software Assurance on all three products
Because it includes SA, if the customer has SBS 2003 R2 Standard and they upgrade to SBS 2008 Standard; they get access to SBS 2008 Standard CALs. If the customer has access to SBS 2003 R2 Premium and they upgrade to SBS 2008 Premium; they get access to SBS 2008 Premium CALs.
Since you can still buy SBS 2003 R2 with SA through Volume Licensing, this is still an option.
After December, SBS 2003 R2 will no longer be available via Volume Licensing and you will be able to buy the equivalent of Small Business Desktop Advantage via a “piecemeal” approach which is officially called “Build Your Own Platform” Where you choose:
- The version of Office from
- Office Enterprise
- Office Professional Plus
- Office Small Business
- The needed CAL from
- Core CAL Suite
- Enterprise CAL Suite
- SBS 2008 Standard CAL
- SBS 2008 Premium CAL
- EBS 2008 Standard CAL
- EBS 2008 Premium CAL
- The version of Vista from
- Windows Vista Business
- Windows Vista Business with Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack
- 3 years of Software Assurance on all three products
You still need to license the “Build Your Own Platform for all desktops in the organization for Company Wide, but you don’t have to use the exact same configuration for all the desktops. For example in a 15 desktop organization, I could license:
- 10 desktops with:
- Office Small Business
- SBS 2008 Standard CAL
- Windows Vista Business
- And 5 desktops with:
- Office Professional Plus
- SBS 2008 Standard CAL
- Windows Vista Business
And a link to the Build Your Own Platform: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/licensing/licensingprograms/ltvolumelicensing/40081471 slides 10 & 18
I hope this helps.
Q: (from Nicole)
I was involved in the webinar today, but I was hoping you could help me out with this immediate issue.
I have the two scenarios below, which I’m presenting to a prospect tomorrow. I wanted to let them know what the Big Easy rebate would be under the Open Business and Open Value scenarios below.
Can you help me out by chance? I also, think they would be eligible for the VAR rebate if they went the Open Value route, am I correct?
A:
Just to clarify, the VAR Rebate is only for you, the customer doesn't apply or directly receive any money. https://partner.microsoft.com/us/varrebates But you have to apply for the program before you sell the products to the customer.
For the Big Easy, you can go to www.microsoftincentives.com/bigeasy to calculate the potential subsidy.
BTW - These promotions can be used TOGETHER!
Q: (from Kristy)
I'm looking for additional Licensing 101 sessions, similar to the one recently held as part of the Tech Days events in Arlington, VA. I'm having trouble finding a listing of other sessions.
A:
Currently no other Licensing 101 sessions are scheduled for the DC area through the end of the calendar year. I know some additional DC events will be scheduled starting in January. If you want to participate over the web, we will have two web sessions Monday and Tuesday of next week (see the attached invite). They will also be recorded.
Virtual Licensing Bootcamp
Presented by Rachel Kistner Magee, Market Development Manager at Ingram Micro and Steve Deming, Partner Solution Advisor at Microsoft.
Licensing can be a very confusing topic that raises a lot of questions.
· What are the different licensing programs?
· What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
· Which one is the right one for my client?
· Is each product licensed differently?
· How do I know if I’m quoting my customer correctly for licensing?
· And, most importantly, how does licensing help me make money?
If you have ever asked one or more of these questions, then we can help.
Earn Additional Income. Build Continuing Revenue. Expand Your Services
Discover, learn and take advantage of the opportunities offered by Microsoft® Licensing. This live webcast bootcamp will help build your capabilities in the areas of Open License, Open Value and Financing Options. The new pricing and licensing changes will be covered, and the entire session will also be infused by the most common licensing scenarios.
You should attend IF:
· You are a reseller or interested in learning more about Microsoft Licensing
· You are a Sales Manager, Sales or Tech Sales role in your organization
· You have attended a previous Microsoft licensing boot camp and are looking for a licensing “refresher”
Click here to register
Q: (from Otto)
Sorry to bother you with this, but I need advice on where to turn.
As you know I've been writing a book. We upgraded to Office 2007 and I accidentally started saving the files in XML format. Now it won't open, and we get an error message of "expecting an = sign". I've exhausted most of the Internet solutions including "load the XML converted into a version of Office 2003. None work.
A:
Sorry to hear about the failed file format. The good news is that the new format is just a ZIP of an XML structure. Change the extension to ZIP and you will be able to read the raw XLM structure. The content would be found under the folder “Word” and the file “Document.xml”
You will have to recreate all of the formatting, but at least you will have access to the content. There is also the possibility of "Frankensteining" the Document.xml file from one .DOCX to another. But that will probably take a lot of effort with very little payoff.