Microsoft outlines Windows Server virtualisation costs

Microsoft has released a white paper to help clarify how its licensing works with virtualised Windows Server environments.

In the white paper, the manufacturer explains how its server software is priced when being used with third-party virtualisation software.

Customers however will be demanding a whole new set of figures when the firm’s Windows Server 2008 is released later this year.

The "Licensing Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 to Run with Virtualization Technologies" white paper outlines how to license the current version of Windows Server when used with systems including VMware ESX, VMware Vmotion and SWsoft Virtuozzo.

In addition, it explains the licensing arrangements for Microsoft’s own System Center Virtual Machine Manager platform.

Windows Server 2008 will have built-in virtualisation, but users will still be able to use third party virtualisation systems when it arrives.

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