One of the vastly huge improvements to the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription is the ability to download ISOs from a dedicated site as well as manage all of our MAPS product keys:
Gone are the days where we had stacks of binders, though we are keeping all of them as MAPS licensing is grandfathered back to the point the subscription was started or the last time it was stopped.
We keep archives of all of our TechNet keys. Each time we archive the key set, we make sure to keep track of which products are still there and which have dropped off.
We will do the same with our online MAPS product keys.
Keep in mind that most of the MAPS product downloads are retail. So, if there is a need to work with volume licensing products such as Office 2007 for Group Policy based distribution, then make an investment in an Open Value Subscription and pick up one Office 2007 Enterprise SKU on the 3 year spread payment plan.
We only ordered one since we have our SBS, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Office for Mac, and other products on Open Value Agreements.
Another option for volume licensing media would be to obtain a TechNet Plus subscription.
Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book
*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)
1 comment:
Note that the TechNet Plus subscription license is for one technician only and only for the purposes of evaluation and testing - not production use.
Which means that Open Value is the way to go.
Also note that there's still the double whammy of Office licenses if you choose to install locally and also access Office through Remote Desktop Services. So if you plan to serve up Office via RDS to the same seats as the MAPS Office local installs, you'll need 10 copies through Open Value. Sucky, but that's the rules.
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