Tips

Tips

Virtualization costs, licensing and support issues

• Compare the top 5 bare-metal hypervisors

  Hypervisors such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix Hypervisor, RHV and Oracle VM Server for x86 provide value to enterprise-level data centers in different ways.  Continue Reading

• Small business virtualization grows in mature market

  Virtualization isn't only for large enterprises anymore. New technology at cheaper prices has made SMB virtualization practical, while increased competition has made it necessary.  Continue Reading

• Mitigate Windows Server 2016 licensing cost concerns

  Microsoft's Windows Server 2016 licensing change could put a serious strain on IT budgets. Though it carries performance risks, IT admins can defray costs with a split environment.  Continue Reading

• A VMware licensing guide to expanding your environment

  Aside from initial budgeting for VMware products, there are some practical aspects of licensing to consider, including different configurations and maintenance.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2016 licensing will spur change from users, chip makers

  Microsoft's Windows Server 2016 licensing will move from a per-CPU model to a per-core model, a costly change for customers with more than eight cores per CPU.  Continue Reading

• Cut software licensing costs with fewer, faster cores

  As software vendors adapt licensing terms to a per-core model, administrators should reassess how they purchase hardware in order to save money.  Continue Reading

• Changes to software licensing models may put buyers at risk

  With the advent of virtualization, major software vendors are moving away from the per CPU licensing model toward the core licensing or per user model.  Continue Reading

• Software licensing models evolving for virtualization

  Virtualization and the rise of multi-core CPUs have led software vendors to rethink licensing models. While some are forced to adjust, others continue to resist.  Continue Reading

• Understanding Windows Server and Hyper-V licensing models

  As Microsoft prepares to make major changes to the licensing models for Windows Server 2016 and Hyper-V, it's essential to understand the fundamentals of licensing in virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• Build a free Hyper-V Server failover cluster

  While it can complicate Windows Server licensing, the free Hyper-V Server allows users to build fault-tolerant environments and failover clusters.  Continue Reading

• Licensing implications of a free Hyper-V installation

  Microsoft Hyper-V is free, but there are also very good reasons to purchase Windows Server with Hyper-V rather than install the standalone hypervisor.  Continue Reading

• When to choose VMware vCenter appliance vs. a Windows install

  There are distinct advantages and limitations administrators should consider when deciding whether to use the virtual appliance version of vCenter.  Continue Reading

• When legacy Windows OS won't play nice with your hypervisor

  Try these troubleshooting options if you need to run an unsupported version of Windows as a guest OS on your VM.  Continue Reading

• How virtualization can get you into software licensing trouble

  Maintaining proper software licensing in virtual environments can be a challenge. Find a strategy to cope or you could find yourself out of compliance and in hot water.  Continue Reading

• Three tips for negotiating the best hypervisor software deal

  Don't simply renew your hypervisor software licenses without shopping around. Use these negotiation tips to save money and get some on your next deal.  Continue Reading