Can I deploy Softgrid 4.5 Beta in my clients Network?
- Hi,
I am working for a UK based organization as IT support engr. We got a request from our client for deploying Softgrid 4.5 Beta over a network of 1000+ workstations.
Are we allowed to do that? Is there any legal/license issues?
Thanks
HMT
Answers
Tim Mangan wrote: To use the beta you must accept the click-through agreement that says you cannot use it in production. That means that the customer will not have a license to use it in production.
I think this statement, which is true does shows that there is a legal issue. Tell your customer to contact Microsoft or licensing company they use and ask them the question. There is no license that is granted to Beta products.
Remember that anyone can download this Beta meaning that if a customer was happy with the feature set in the Beta and for some unknown reason wanted no support channel, they could conceivable use it forever. Microsoft really would not want this and obviously has made it legally binding by you (your company) not to use in production.
Licensing SoftGrid since the MS acquisition for the desktop has been part of MDOP, which requires SA on the desktop. TS is still a stand alone license that can be purchased without SA.
mattmcdermott
All Replies
4.5 beta is not for production use and would strongly recomend you not deploying this out in mass. You dont get the support for starters if you have an issue or a problem.
There is nothing more i love than coming out to customers especially in my home land of the UK, however this would not be a happy visit when you would be in an unsupportable scenario. One that i am sure you and your company would not want to be in
Start testing and planning now so that your end deployments in production use the RTM builds! The end is in sight..... so just hold out !!!!!
All the best
JZ
- Hi JZ
Thanks very much for the response. Yeah, we are concerned about the support issues, but the customer is pushing for the package. Our management don't want do loose a huge customer.
My concern is about the legal / license issues about deploying a beta product in product network? Any pointers in that direction?
Thanks
Hemanth
http://www.techtalkz.com To use the beta you must accept the click-through agreement that says you cannot use it in production. That means that the customer will not have a license to use it in production.
On the non-legal side, the RTM builds will be significantly different than the Beta. The customer risks not only having to re-deploy all those clients, but the possibility of needing to resequence the apps again also. (I am not saying that there will be incompatibilities, just that given the significant changes involved you have to prepare for that possibility.
Hemanth,
I strongly recommended not putting this into production for the reasons being stated here in the posts by the other very useful forum members. If they really want to go into production right now, 4.2 would make more sense as it is supported and their will defnitely be a supported upgrade path. I don't know if the 4.5 beta will have a supported path as is was not intended for production, but would highly doubt it.
On a side note if this customer is interested in putting beta software into production, make sure they talk to their TAM or MS contact about becoming a TAP partner. That way when these products come up MS will actaully support them in these types of situations.
mattmcdermott
- Thank you very much for the replies. I have updated the customer about the risks and awating his response. It seems as long as there is no legal issues, he is ok with the lack of support.
Tim Mangan wrote: To use the beta you must accept the click-through agreement that says you cannot use it in production. That means that the customer will not have a license to use it in production.
I think this statement, which is true does shows that there is a legal issue. Tell your customer to contact Microsoft or licensing company they use and ask them the question. There is no license that is granted to Beta products.
Remember that anyone can download this Beta meaning that if a customer was happy with the feature set in the Beta and for some unknown reason wanted no support channel, they could conceivable use it forever. Microsoft really would not want this and obviously has made it legally binding by you (your company) not to use in production.
Licensing SoftGrid since the MS acquisition for the desktop has been part of MDOP, which requires SA on the desktop. TS is still a stand alone license that can be purchased without SA.
mattmcdermott
