3 easy ways to license tablets in the business

A primer brought to you by Softchoice virtualization architectS and MicroSoft licenSing SpecialiStS

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the tablet challenge

Like it or not, tablets and mobile devices are flooding the it environment as workers want new technologies to unlock

more flexibility to do their job anytime, anywhere.

Despite all the shapes, sizes, and operating systems, one thing is for sure: tablets carry a unique and frustrating set

of licensing considerations. many popular tablets run non-microsoft operating systems – such as Apple ioS and google

Android – making licensing for common business applications a challenge. Still, it’s important to note there are rules

and regulations in place, which organizations need to follow to be compliant and avoid unnecessary risks.

Softchoice created this guide to make these requirements more clear to it leaders. Written by our internal subject

matter experts from microsoft, Vmware and Citrix and our Virtualization Architects, we hope this guide helps you to ask

the right questions as you navigate your options.

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about this brief

in this brief, we examine a common scenario many organizations face today, to illustrate the burdens of trying to

license a non-microsoft oS tablet. Next, we’ll show you how to solve this challenge using three common methods:

method 1: vMware infrastructure

method 2: citrix infrastructure

method 3: Microsoft only infrastructure

the information that follows is meant to be a starting point and not a definitive guide to reaching tablet nirvana.

every situation is different and requires collaboration with experts that are familiar with these solutions.

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a common scenario: bob the sales guy

bob is a sales account manager for a regional logistics company. he spends lots of time on the road, meeting with

customers and potential customers. part of bob’s responsibilities require that he input orders, manage his customer base,

assemble proposals, and more. bob currently uses his corporate notebook to assist with daily tasks but – considering he

is meeting with customers all day long – these tasks typically creep into his own time, even with his notebook at his side.

it’s probably good to mention bob coaches his son’s little league two days a week, plays softball himself once a week

and probably should carve out some time to connect with his spouse. Sound familiar?

bob and his company are always on the lookout for ways to be more productive during work hours. this past holiday

season, bob received a non-microsoft oS tablet, one of many different brands and flavors, from his family. it would

be great for bob to be able to leverage his new tablet at work, to be able to spend more time with his family.

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what bob is looking to accomplish with his new non-Microsoft os tablet

here’s what bob is looking to get out of his non-microsoft tablet:

1. rich email (easy)

2. Build and deliver presentations

3. create and manipulate substantial financial spreadsheets

4. leverage a custom build erp system for on-the-spot order entry and updating

5. Make sure that all the corporate data is secure and not stored locally on the tablet

So how do we get bob the freedom he wants to do all these tasks on his tablet, while ensuring his software licensing is

up to speed? over the next few pages we’ll take a look at three licensing methods we can use to solve bob’s predicament.

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Method: VMware thinapp

the first method relies on Vmwares View and thinApp virtualization technologies, as illustrated by the graphic above. to do this right, you’ll need a wide selection of microsoft licenses, including exchange CALs, roaming rights and key infrastructure, as well as comprehensive Vmware licensing bundles to ensure a quality end-user experience. here’s the key checklist to help you build this solution:

Microsoft licensing required• ExchangeCALs;WindowsServerCALs

• WindowsVirtualDesktopAccessand/orWindowsOperating

SystemwithSoftwareAssurance

• OfficeApplicationswithRoamingUseRights(commonly

grantedthroughmaintainingSoftwareAssurance)

• Windowsapplicableinfrastructurelicensing:WindowsServer;

SQLServer;ExchangeServer

vMware licensing required• ViewPremierBundle(canbesoldina10or100packbundle)

• Includes:10seatsofVMwareView;ViewManager;View

Composer;ThinAPP;VirtualCenterFoundationforView;

vSphere4EnterprisePlusforView

• FeatureSetofViewPremierBundle

• ViewClientwithLocalMode-RunVirtualizedDesktopinside

andoutsideofthenetwork;

• Windows7support–Increasespeedandreducecostand

complexityofmigrationtoWindows7

• StreamlinedapplicationManagement–ManageThinAppin

oneviewwithViewManager

• AutomatedDesktopProvisioning–Viewmanagersingle

managementtooltoprovisionnewdesktopsorgroupsfrom

asingleconsole

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Microsoft licensing required• RDSCAL(WindowsRemoteDesktopServicesCALs)

• ExchangeCALsandWindowsServerCALs

• WindowsVirtualDesktopAccessand/orWindows

OperatingSystemwithSoftwareAssurance

• OfficeApplicationswithRoamingUseRights(commonly

grantedthroughmaintainingSoftwareAssurance)

• Windowsapplicableinfrastructurelicensing:Windows

Server;SQServer;ExchangeServer

Method: citrix Xenapp

Another way to deliver business apps to tablets is with Citrix XenApp. Similar to the Vmware method, this requires a good mix of microsoft licensing and additional virtualization key-stones to ensure you bring the performance you seek, and the security features you need – all while staying audit risk free. here’s the key checklist of what you need to do it right:

citrix licensing/hardware required• XenDesktopPlatinumLicenses

• Peruserorconcurrentuserlicensing

• IncludesthefollowingCitrixlicenses:XenDesktop;

XenAPP;XenServer

• FeatureSetofXenDesktopPlatinum

• FeatureSetofViewPremierBundle

• BranchRepeaterclient(forWANoptimizationwhen

combinedwithaRepeaterapplianceinthedatacenter)

• AccessGatewayUniversalLicense(forprovidinggranular

accesscontrolwitheithertheAccessGatewayorNetScaler)

• EdgeSight(enduserperformancemonitoring)

• PasswordManager(singlesignon)

• SmartAuditor(allowsrecordingofon-screenactivityofany

user’ssession)

• NetscalerHardwareComponent:Applicationacceleration,load

balancingandwebsecurityappliance

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Microsoft licensing required• RDSCAL(WindowsRemoteDesktopServicesCALs)

• ExchangeCALs;WindowsServerCALs

• WindowsVirtualDesktopAccessand/orWindows

OperatingSystemwithSoftwareAssurance

• OfficeApplicationswithRoamingUseRights(commonly

grantedthroughSoftwareAssurance)

• Windowsapplicableinfrastructurelicensing:Windows

Server;SQLServer;ExchangeServer

microsoft offers suites designed to ease the licensing, deployment and management of virtual desktops. For instance, with the help of the VDi premium suite, it personnel are capable of deploying session -based desktops and applications, in addition to Vm-based desktops. All this this can be done solely with microsoft technologies such as rDS, hyper-V and microsoft’s Desktop optimization pack (mDop). more info on this, here.

Method: Microsoft – Remote Desktop services (RDs)

the third direction we’re looking at relies solely on microsoft technology, as you can see in the diagram above. this is all about leveraging Windows’ remote Desktop Services CALs, while including a mix of the typical CALs and infrastructure included in the two previous examples. below is the checklist for what you need to make this method work:

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Final thoughts

this guide has explored just a few ways to leverage desktop virtualization to increase productivity.

by no means will it answer all your desktop virtualization and tablet questions. And a number

of very important, unanswered questions remain, such as:

• What if my organization owns the non-Microsoft tablet?

• What if i’m not currently in a license maintenance program, such as Software assurance from Microsoft?

• What if i’m in an enterprise agreement with Microsoft?

in all situations, the best way to properly architect and implement a solution is to leverage advice from the

experts on the frontlines. Softchoice is working with all of our technology partners to better serve the needs

of organizations and offer ideas about what the proper licensing criteria should look like as it evolves.

Get started

our team of microsoft licensing and technology architects are standing by to help you overcome this new,

and growing tablet licensing challenge.

CALL: 1-800-268-7638

emAiL: Microsoft@Softchoice.com

Form: advice request form

connect with us today. 1.800.268.7638 | www.softchoice.com/microsoft