In this episode of SysAdmin Weekly, hosts Andy Syrewicze and Eric Siron take a look at everyone's FAVORITE subject: licensing! And they're particularly focusing on Hyper-V and VMware. Andy and Eric's conversation includes the highlights and the differences between Microsoft and VMware licensing philosophies, the implications of WindowsServer Standard versus Data Center licensing, and the challenges sysadmins face during audits. Also discussed are the complexities of licensing for virtual machines. They discuss the implications of VM mobility, and the challenges of high availability beyond traditional clustering. Finally Andy and Eric cover new licensing options, includingpay-as-you-go and virtual instance licensing, and provides insights for organizations considering migration from VMware to Hyper-V. Throughout the discussion, the importance of consulting with licensing experts is emphasized to ensure compliance and cost-effectiveness.

Key Takeaways:

- Licensing is a necessary evil in IT.- Microsoft and VMware have fundamentally different licensing philosophies.- Hyper-V is included with Windows Server licensing.- Understanding VM mobility is crucial for compliance.- Nonprofits can access better software pricing through TechSoup.- Audits can consume significant time and resources. Make sure you're getting the cheapest pricing you're eligible for.- Windows containers do not count towards licensing.- Desktop licensing can be complex and risky.- VM mobility can complicate licensing agreements.- Data center licensing allows for unlimited virtual instances.- Pay as you go licensing is often not cost-effective.- SQL licensing can be affected by VM mobility.- Always consult with licensing experts before making changes.- Migration from VMware to Hyper-V requires careful planning.- The cost of migration can be more significant than licensing fees.

Episode Resources:

- Episode on Azure Local - https://youtu.be/YpEG-u_A9Qs?si=S10VdgHYX3GcNmFn- Project Runspace - https://www.projectrunspace.org- Andy On Tech - https://www.andyontech.com

#HyperV #SysAdmin #ITPro #VMware