MSDN Subscribers can run Software Licensed Under MSDN on Windows Azure Virtual Machines

Great news! Starting June 1, 2013, any current MSDN subscriber who has activated their subscription may run most of the software licensed under MSDN on Windows Azure Virtual Machines, providing greater flexibility for developing and testing their applications.

This cloud use right applies to all software included in the MSDN subscription except Windows client and Windows Server. Windows client (Windows 7, Windows 8, etc.) is only licensed to run on local devices. MSDN subscribers can run Windows Server on Windows Azure Virtual Machines, but since this is not included as part of the cloud use rights, subscribers will be charged at the rate of Windows Server Virtual Machines. This cloud use right be available through Qualified MSDN Cloud Partners as well. More details on this new program will be made available soon. Please consult the Visual Studio and MSDN licensing white paper for additional details on cloud use rights.

In addition to this new use right for MSDN subscribers, Microsoft updated the Windows Azure MSDN benefit to provide MSDN subscribers a monthly credit to use toward Windows Azure services and reduced rates for running Windows Server Virtual Machines.

Find out more on the Virtual Machines Licensing FAQ

MSDN Licensing and Windows Azure: What You Should Know

Starting June 1, 2013 : MSDN Subscribers Can Run Software Licensed Under MSDN on Windows Azure Virtual Machines

Many  are wondering about using MSDN licenses within Windows Azure. It has come to my attention that the software is not licensed for use on 3rd party shared servers (“cloud” environments) or in production environments.

Where the Software Can be Installed and Run

The licensed user can install and use the software on any number of devices. The software can be installed and used on your devices at work, at home, at school, and even on devices at a customer’s office or on dedicated hardware hosted by a 3rd party. However, the software is not licensed for use on 3rd party shared servers (“cloud” environments) or in production environments.

Which is from page 12 of Visual Studio 2012 and MSDN Licensing Whitepaper – January-2013, downloadable here.

Furthermore, client OS like Windows 8 and Windows 7 are not to be used in Windows Azure Virtual Machines. As far as I know, Windows Azure supports Server OS versions. The following are the supported Windows Server distributions as of April 2013:

• Windows Server 2012 (en_us) – All editions – x64
• Windows Server 2008 R2 (en_us) – All editions SP1 – x64

Please read the following regarding licensing on Windows Azure

All Microsoft software installed in the Windows Azure Virtual Machine environment must be properly licensed. Windows Azure Virtual Machines include by default a license for use of Windows Server in the Windows Azure environment. Certain Windows Azure Virtual Machine offerings may also include additional Microsoft software on a per-hour or evaluation basis. Licenses for other software must be obtained separately. For information about Microsoft’s License Mobility program see:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/software-assurance/license-mobility.aspx

References

• Visual Studio 2012 and MSDN Licensing White Paper
• Create a Virtual Machine Running Windows Server
• Creating and Uploading a Virtual Hard Disk that Contains the Windows Server Operating System
• Microsoft server software support for Windows Azure Virtual Machines
• Windows Azure Cloud Services, Virtual Machines, and Virtual Network SLA