Microsoft Windows Server Optimization for on premise deployments using ServiceNow SAM

[Srinivas Ramanu]

Video explaining the feature in details

Explanation

Microsoft Windows Server is a brand name for a group of server operating systems that Microsoft has been developing since 2003. The Product is available in mainly two commercial editions namely Windows Server Standard and Windows Server Data Center. 

Windows Server Data Center is usually 5- 6 times costlier than Standard: 

• List Price 2 core pack approx. $5000 for Windows Server DC 
• List Price 2 core pack approx. $800 for Windows Server Standard 

 

However, Windows Server Data Center provides some benefits which can be cost effective such as Unlimited Virtualization that allows unlimited virtual machines to be run on a Server if completely licensed. 

List of Licensing rules applicable for on premise deployment are mentioned below 

 

Figure 1 MS Windows Server Licensing Rules for on premise deployments 

ServiceNow Support for optimal license assignment for on-premises Windows Server deployments. 

ServiceNow SAM pro provides support in two main areas: 

1. Cost effective license assignment of Windows Server Data Center Licenses or Standard Licenses 

• If virtualisation density is high on a cluster auto assign Windows Server Data Center Licenses 
• If virtualisation density is low on a cluster auto assign Windows Server Standard Licenses 

1. If cost effective license assignment is not possible due to unavailability of rights, Auto generate recommendations for using the most cost effective option  

More details on this feature can be referred here. 

Demo Use Case 

Figure 2 Use Case for Demo 

On ServiceNow SAM Pro 

• Windows Server Data Center consuming 32 entitlement rights for cluster 2,  
• Windows Server Standard consuming and 512 entitlement rights for cluster 3 

• Automated recommendation generation to purchase Windows Server Data Center for heavily virtualised cluster 

Figure 3 License consumption for Windows Server Data Center on SAM Pro 

 

Figure 4 License Consumption for Windows Server Standard on SAM Pro 

 

Figure 5 Automated Recommendation Generation for Windows Server Optimization on SAM Pro