It's the same as any other virtual environment. At present MS don't limit the hardware platform used. Until recently you needed one Windows licence for each virtual instance of Windows you ran. This has been amended recently and the rules are now more complex. For example if I have read the rules properly if it's a workstation version of Windows and you connect exclusively from a PC running the same version of windows then no licence is needed. For Server Standard you get one instance that can be used for managing one virtual instance. For Enterprise server you get 4 instances per licence.
I guess if Microsoft found there was significant loss of business to Z systems they might revise the model... Dave G4UGM Illegitimi Non Carborundum > -----Original Message----- > From: The IBM z/VM Operating System > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of dave > Sent: 06 May 2010 09:58 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Windows Enabler Appliance on System z Now Available > > > Another interesting question would be how does one go about > licensing the needed software for a z10 from M$....:-) > > DJ > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "O'Brien, Dennis L" > <dennis.l.o'[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Windows Enabler Appliance on System z Now Available > Date: Thu, 6 May 2010 12:24:14 -0700 > > > Interesting. Is this related to Mantissa's z86VM project? > > > > > > > > > > Dennis > > > > > > > > "The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as > > to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the smallest possible > > amount of hissing." -- Jean-Baptiste Colbert, 17th-century French > > minister of finance > > > > > > > > From: The IBM z/VM Operating System > [mailto:[email protected]] > > On Behalf Of David Boyes > > Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 11:42 > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [IBMVM] Windows Enabler Appliance on System z Now Available > > > > > > > > As discussed at WAVV: > > > > > > > > Based on requests from a number of customers, we have assembled a > > virtual machine appliance for System z and z/VM to permit running > > x86_64 based operating systems and applications on System > z10 hardware > > in virtual machines. The appliance has been tested with > (and passed) > > the Microsoft Windows Server Hardware Verification test, and > > Windows Server 2003 and 2008 virtual machines have been > > successfully deployed and run applications such as > > Exchange 2007 and Sharepoint. > > > > > > > > What is the intended use? > > > > > > > > The appliance is intended to provide a immediate way for > Intel server > > applications that perform mostly I/O intensive applications > to run on > > System z hardware, and is best suited for server > applications such as > > Exchange or Sharepoint hosting. The appliance does not include > > licenses for any OS (eg Windows, etc) or the applications > > to run within the appliance. > > > > > > > > Based on what IBM has publically shared about System z hardware > > futures, we see this as a roadmap item that will be expanded and > > optimized to take advantage of new direct execution capabilities as > > they become available. We are discussing how enhancements > to speed up > > the emulation could be done with IBM, and will share more as things > > evolve. > > > > > > > > How's It Work? > > > > It's based on the research with dynamic instruction > simulation done as > > part of the OpenSolaris for System z work and a clean-room x86_64 > > instruction description. It is (by definition) not as efficient as > > real iron, but it provides a way for x86_64 applications to be run > > without adding additional hardware to the data center. > > > > > > > > What Do I need to Run it? > > > > > > > > A z10 and z/VM 5.4 or greater. It may work on pre-z10 > machines, but it > > is likely to consume an unacceptable amount of overhead > CPU. Both IFL > > and CPs are supported. > > > > > > > > How do I get a copy? > > > > > > > > The appliance is available according to a mutual > > assistance model based on how many physical CECs you plan > > to deploy it on. You can contribute money, people or resources to > > obtain a copy. > > > > > > > > Please contact [email protected] if you are interested. > > > > > > > > -- db > > > > > > > > David Boyes > > > > Sine Nomine Associates > > > >
