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So, in this article I would like to tell, how to use VirtualBox for Windows 10 for free, how to set it up and configure. VirtualBox is a virtual environment, which allows to emulate any operational system on the PC, including open-source platforms and archaic systems from Windows generation, like Win 2000 or Win Millennium Edition. VirtualBox has not provided pricing information for this product or service. This is common practice for software vendors and service providers. The pricing insights provided here are based on user reviews and are intended to give you an indication of value. Alternatively, contact VirtualBox to obtain current pricing. I am confused around VirtualBox licensing for enterprise customers. My query is whether can organizations download Virtualbox from www.virtualbox.org / www.oracle.com and use it for enterprise deployments. Oracle VM VirtualBox is the world's most popular open source cross-platform virtualization software, with over 63 million downloads. There is a vibrant user community at virtualbox.org, where users of all types congregate and provide support for each other, with participation from Oracle development.

If you’re considering or are in a scenario where you need to license Windows 10 (or previous versions of Windows) in a virtual machine, then this how-to will give you definitive guide on licensing the Windows desktop OS for virtualization. I will cover both the scenarios of accessing Windows locally in a VM and from your data center (server based VM). It might not be everyone’s favorite topic to discuss, but luckily I really enjoy the topic to share my knowledge.

8 Steps total

Step 1: What are the license options to access a VM of Windows 10?

Windows Software Assurance (SA) and Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA) are the licensing options required when accessing a Windows desktop OS in a VM, either locally or remotely. Windows SA and Windows VDA are device based licenses, and under select Volume Licensing agreements available in a Per User license option.

Both Windows SA & Windows VDA provide flexibility for how you use Windows and include access to unique products with license rights not available through OEM or FPP licenses.

Windows 10 can be purchased via Retail (FPP) to run in a VM locally on the device. Windows 10 FPP licenses can be used in type 2 hypervisor scenarios (i.e. client Hyper-V, Boot Camp, Parallels, etc.) on the device. Only the primary user may remotely access Windows running locally on the device, and FPP licensing does not provide the license rights to access Windows remotely from a server.

OEM Windows 10 licenses are sold preinstalled on PCs from OEM manufactures. There are OEM System Builder Windows 10 licenses on the market but these licenses are for supposed to be only for System Builders who build and sell PCs and subject to the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License.

Step 2: How do I license Windows Software Assurance?

Windows Software Assurance is available to license both Per Device and Per User.

Windows Software Assurance Per Device can be licensed with the Windows 10 Enterprise Upgrade license. Note you can no longer purchase ‘SA only’ within 90 days of purchasing a Windows desktop OEM/FPP license. Windows SA is included with certain VL agreements such as EA, Open Value & EES.

The requirement to license Windows 10 Enterprise Upgrade w/Software Assurance is a qualifying Windows desktop OS installed on your device(s). The qualifying OS requirement is essentially the Professional version of Windows (or better). There is a full list of qualifying Windows operating systems in both the Product Terms and the Volume Licensing guide for Windows 10 (pg.6).

With Windows Software Assurance Per User licensing, you license the individual, not the device, and that individual receives virtualization use rights for any device. To license Windows SA Per User, the primary user’s primary device must be licensed for Windows 7/8/8.1/10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. Meaning you can only license Windows SA per User for a user who is the primary user of a device AND that device is a work device (not personally owned).

If your device is already licensed for Windows SA or Windows VDA Per Device and you want to move to Windows SA per User, the Windows SA Per User Add-on can be licensed here – at a discounted cost over the full SA/VDA per User.

Step 3: How do I license Windows Virtual Desktop Access (VDA)?

For devices or users that do not qualify for Windows Software Assurance, you can license the device or user with a Windows VDA license (which includes Windows SA benefits). Essentially the Windows VDA license is for devices or users that do not qualify or do not have Windows SA; such as thin clients, 3rd party owned devices and any device without Windows SA.

Windows VDA is now available to license both Per Device and Per User. There are no device license requirements to license either Windows VDA Per User or Windows VDA Per Device.
*Note that Windows VDA Per User and VDA Per Device are not available under all VL agreements.

Step 4: What are the access rights to Windows Enterprise with Windows Software Assurance & Windows VDA?

The rights to access/run Windows desktop OS in a VM depends on where the VM will be located (locally or remotely from a server) and whether you have Windows SA or Windows VDA. The above chart breaks down these rights.

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With Windows SA & Windows VDA, you may access up to four VM instances of Windows Enterprise (or downgraded OS) across up to four different servers at any one time. Windows SA and Windows VDA you also get the rights to the one instance of Windows 10 Enterprise (or downgraded OS) as the physical OS locally on the Licensed Device. For Windows VDA (Per Device), this local use right applies only if the Licensed Device is also licensed for Windows 10/8.1 Pro or Enterprise, or Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise.

Step 5: Bonus – FREE Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP)

The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) or suite, is now included with Windows SA & Windows VDA. This includes both the Per User and Per Device options for Windows SA & Windows VDA. Again, MDOP use rights are now included with Windows SA & Windows VDA, you do not need to purchase MDOP separately.

Step 6: Scenario – 250 OEM Windows 7 Pro devices need to access Windows 10 Enterprise VM from a Windows Server 2012R2 server using Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Services (RDS); how do I license this scenario?

There are multiple licensing options given the each customers’ scenario and # of users. My licensing recommendations are below:

Server side licensing requirements:
1. Windows Server 2012R2 License – comes in multiple licensing options, the two I recommend in this scenario are:
a. Windows Server 2012R2 Datacenter – enables you to run unlimited instances of Windows Server with each license; or
b. Windows Server 2012R2 Standard - enables you to run up to two virtual instances of Windows Server with each license

2. Windows Server 2012 CALs – come in both Per Device and Per User and are required for every user or device accessing a your servers.

3. Windows Server 2012 RDS CALs – come in both Per Device and Per User and are required for every user or device accessing the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) functionality of Windows Server.

Licensing the Windows desktop OS in a VM requires:
4. Windows 10 Enterprise Upgrade w/Software Assurance (per user or per device); or
5. Windows Virtual Desktop Access (per user or per device)

Step 7: Scenario – We’re planning on using VMware Horizon to allow our users to access Windows 7 Pro from a VM. Do we require Windows Server RDS CALs here, what licensing is required from Microsoft?

Given that you are using VMware’s solution, you will need to work with VMware to license their products.

If you are using Windows Server 2012, see the scenario above for licensing Windows Server. If you are NOT using Windows Server 2012R2 or any Windows Server RDS technologies, then you will

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