One of the many versions of Windows Vista is Windows Vista Enterprise. Enterprise is only available to Software Assurance customers. Seeing as I rarely hit one of those, I’ve not had my hands on this version yet.
First, some background:
- Any version of Vista can host virtual machines.
- Only Vista Business and Vista Ultimate can legally be run as guests in virtual machines.
- Usual licensing applies: 1 Vista VM = 1 Vista license. 1 host and 2 guests = 3 licenses.
Now to Enterprise. One of the marketed benfits of using Enterprise was built in virtualisation. Why would you use it? Typically you would use it for running a legacy OS for old application dependancies and for split administration, e.g. an admin uses an ordinary user on their host PC for office work and an admin user in their VM for admin work.
Enterprise allows you to run up to 4 free guests as long as:
- They are going to be used by the user logged on to the host OS.
- They run either Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate.
The following was said on a recent MS blog post: "In Windows Vista Enterprise edition we allow the user to have 4 installs of Windows in VMs and they can install and use Vista Business Edition in a VM".
Many aren’t even aware of their Software Assurance benefits and haven’t even signed in to view them. Contact your LAR or your TAM to get your credentials sorted out so you can sign in and access/activate those benefits (free training, e-learning, free or cheap products/upgrades, downloads, etc).
Download and install Windows Vista Entperprise. Then download Virtual PC 2007 (free) and install it on your Windows Vista Enterprise clients so you can use VM’s to:
- Split your admin user accounts.
- Create software development/test environments.
- Develop and test OS deployment.
- Develop and test application deployment.
- Have dedicated test machines for group policy administration.
The only limit is your imagination. It’d be a shame not to make use of all that free licensing if it’s available to you.