|
|
|
30 Nov 2007
Comments:2
The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) has drawn together its key partners to discuss the impact of virtualisation on software licensing.
The group consists of FAST members Centennial Software, Computacenter, CSC Computer Sciences, HP, Hitachi Europe, ManageSoft, SMS Services, Rocela, Salans and Symantec/Altiris.
John Lovelock, chief executive of FAST, said: “Virtualisation is one of the hottest topics on everyone’s mind right now but there is a big gap in understanding what it really means for organisations looking to adapt the technology - both in terms of the impact it has on the day to day running of the business, the possibility of cost savings as well as the potential for ambiguity over licensing agreements with the software publishers.”
Lovelock explained that from an asset management point of view, users are deciding on virtualisation without identifying the importance of licensing first.
He said there is not currently an easy way to measure usage on virtual environments and that technically it is possible but a discovery agent has to be deployed there to identify the software’s presence.
“What we do know, is that there will need to be a combination of processes and tools to control the virtual environment. It is vital at this point that we demand greater clarity from vendors and look at the potential to canvas virtualisation software vendors for their view on the future direction,” added Lovelock.
Martyn Hobbs, representative for FAST member Altiris, said: “Being at the forefront of desktop application virtualisation, Altiris takes its responsibilities to both legal compliance and its customers very seriously.
“To act in any way, other than to encourage openness at this stage in the development of virtualisation technology, would at best be immature and to provide clarity in the area of virtualised license usage, it’s going to take a team effort from software manufacturers, tool providers and organisations like the Federation Against Software Theft to make the issue of virtual licence compliance easier to understand.”
Further reading:
Related articles
In this video find out about the fast-growing Chinese vendor's plans for market domination and how the channel is its route of choice
Find out what gifts Acer has in store for partners for 2012 in this exclusive roundup of its recent conference
CRN's premier networking event is back on 17 May at the Ricoh Arena
Date: Thu 17 May 2012
Channel fighters preparing to square up once more on 24 May
Date: Thu 24 May 2012
The proliferation of endpoint devices within the enterprise has highlighted the shortcomings of one of the traditional approaches to data security
This Forrester report compares the costs and benefits of legacy email and productivity software with Google Apps
Dave discovers that rozzers are seemingly living in the technology dark ages
Mark Needham, founder of distributor Widget, argues that John Browett leaves for Apple with Dixons in better shape than when he arrived
|
|
|
Do you agree?
It won't work without Microsoft
FAST needs to get Microsoft on-board. Licensing problems are caused by complexity that Microsoft puts into it's products to the point that its own people and partners quite often get it wrong.
Posted by Ben Rattigan | 03 Dec 2007
Not so fast, FAST .....
"?To act in any way, other than to encourage openness at this stage in the development of virtualisation technology, would at best be immature and to provide clarity in the area of virtualised license usage, it?s going to take a team effort from software manufacturers, tool providers and organisations like the Federation Against Software Theft to make the issue of virtual licence compliance easier to understand.?
One assumes that is so that those whom you have mentioned can milk it without needing to know or do anything with it.
How very ... parasitical. Virtualisation doesn't have any software as such, it is all about how you use the existing tools and services which IT has already made available.
What you would actually be paying for should you pay for virtualisation services is a proxy CEO to Beta Macro Manage/present further Virtual Opportunities to the Business.
Anything else is a rip off and will soon be exposed as such.
Posted by amanfromMars | 30 Nov 2007
Have your say