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I don't get it... If I provide a virtualized hardware desktop hosting platform that can enable the client to load an ISO of Windows and enter his own serial ke

I don't get it... If I provide a virtualized hardware desktop hosting platform that can enable the client to load an ISO of Windows and enter his own serial key, am I violating any Windows hosted desktop restrictions? Or am I only violating it if I supply the serial keys (from legit separate/per-customer/never re-asigned OEM copies)? I think it's the latter, because in the former there is absolutly no contract between myself and Microsoft. What the client does with my platform is his business and doing. If he activates Windows there, that's between him and Microsoft. So what is the problem that these articles are trying to point out? How is it difficult for customers to buy their own OEM copy and supply a serial key?... Cusomter goes to your panel, clicks to load some already predefined or prehosted VHD or ISO, then supplies serial key him/herself. Problem solved? Or is this all about the cost of OEM copies?

tomku 15y ago
These services are not VPSs. They're basically selling RDP access to pre-installed copies of Windows, where the service provider handles all the licensing and serial keys. The idea is to target non-technical users who want to run MS Office or Flash websites on their iPad without paying for a PC running Windows.
wvenable 15y ago
From the article: "We do know from Microsoft's blog post that vendors can only host Windows 7 desktops in a virtual desktop infrastructure setting if the customers buy their own licenses from Microsoft. Even if this requirement is met, the vendor must host the desktops on separate physical hardware for each customer, ruling out a multitenant arrangement." You might be able to enable the client to load an ISO of Windows and have him enter his serial key but you'd have to separate hardware for each customer making any virtualization completely pointless.

tomku 15y ago

These services are not VPSs. They're basically selling RDP access to pre-installed copies of Windows, where the service provider handles all the licensing and serial keys. The idea is to target non-technical users who want to run MS Office or Flash websites on their iPad without paying for a PC running Windows.

wvenable 15y ago

From the article: "We do know from Microsoft's blog post that vendors can only host Windows 7 desktops in a virtual desktop infrastructure setting if the customers buy their own licenses from Microsoft. Even if this requirement is met, the vendor must host the desktops on separate physical hardware for each customer, ruling out a multitenant arrangement." You might be able to enable the client to load an ISO of Windows and have him enter his serial key but you'd have to separate hardware for each customer making any virtualization completely pointless.