Custom Windows Server Standard VM on Azure: It Works, But Is It Licensing Compliant?
Hi everyone, I wanted to share a recent technical experience where I successfully created and deployed a Windows Server Standard VM on Azure using a fully custom image. I started by downloading the official Windows Server Standard Evaluation ISO. I created a Generation 2 VM in Hyper-V and completed the OS setup using the Desktop Experience edition. Once the configuration was done, I ran sysprep to generalize the image. After that, I converted the disk from VHDX to VHD in fixed format, which turned out to be a critical step because Azure does not accept dynamic disks. The resulting file was around 127 GB, so I uploaded it to a premium storage account container to ensure performance. From there, I created a Generation 2 image in Azure and deployed a new VM from it. I then activated the Standard edition with a valid product key. Everything worked smoothly, but I’m still unsure whether this method is fully compliant with Microsoft’s licensing policies. Specifically, I’m trying to understand if going from an Evaluation ISO to sysprep, upload, deployment, and activation in Azure is a valid and compliant scenario when not using BYOL with Software Assurance or a CSP license. Has anyone gone through this process or has any insights on the compliance aspect? Thanks in advance for any guidance or clarification.🌟 Community Spotlight – Nicola Delfino
In this edition of Community Spotlight, we're highlighting some outstanding contributions from the Microsoft communities. This time, we’re featuring https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoladelfino/, Senior Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft. Getting hands-on with Azure networking can be difficult - the network may not behave in the way you anticipate! Nicola has created and been maintaining a Hub and Spoke playground repository. https://github.com/nicolgit/hub-and-spoke-playground over the past few years. The Hub and Spoke playground is a well-documented, easy-to-deploy network topology for testing, studying, and inventing network configurations. https://github.com/nicolgit/hub-and-spoke-playground A collection of BICEP/ARM templates that deploys on Azure a hub & spoke net topology aligned with Microsoft Enterprise scale landing zone ref architecture to use as a playground for testing and studying. As bonus, many scenarios with step-by-step solutions for studying and learning are also available If you need to learn, get hands-on and see potential relevant architecture patterns when it comes to Azure networking, this repository is worth a look!
Skilling updates to the Analytics specialization, DW Migration specialization, and Azure Expert MSP
As always, Microsoft is seeking ways to evolve with the growing needs of our partners. Recent updates to some specialization requirements are just one way we’re working toward that goal. On June 18*, we are adjusting the certification requirements for the Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization, the Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure specialization, and the Azure Expert MSP offering. These updates are designed to account for the retirement of the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification on March 31, 2025. For both the Analytics specialization and the Data Warehouse Migration specialization, the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification will be replaced with the Fabric Data Engineer Associate certification. For the Azure Expert MSP offering requirements, the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification is being removed without replacement. To meet the updated requirements, please ensure you have enough certified individuals in relevant certifications. The number of required certified individuals across each of the three offerings will remain the same. If you meet the prior requirements and are negatively impacted, you will have a six-month grace period to work toward meeting the new requirements. During this time, an override status will be indicated in Partner Center. Check out these links for more information: Skilling resources Specializations re-enrollments Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure specialization *Language has been updated since the original post was publishedPerformance and skilling updates coming to Infra and Database Migration specialization
Microsoft is always looking for ways to evolve with the growing needs of our partners. Recent updates to some specialization requirements are just one way we’re working toward that goal. On March 4, we made adjustments to the performance, skilling, and certification requirements for the Infrastructure (Azure) specialization, Infra and Database Migration to Azure. To showcase your organization’s competency in implementing secure migrations for customers, more flexible performance requirements will now include Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) from either Windows or Linux and either SQL or open-source database (OSDB). Current requirement: You need to meet both Windows and Linux ACR requirements. Updated requirement: You need to meet either the Windows or Linux ACR requirement. Current requirement: You need to meet both SQL and OSDB ACR requirements. Updated requirement: You need to meet either the SQL or OSDB ACR requirement. Additionally, as of March 4, the Azure Security Engineer Associate certification is now a requirement for the Infra and Database Migration specialization. Partners who wish to enroll, or remain enrolled, in the specialization will need to have a certain number of their employees pass the Azure Security Engineer Associate certification. Furthermore, the Azure Data Engineer Associate certificate will expire on March 31, 2025. If you completed it before retirement, you will be credited for holding the certification for one year after obtaining it. Moving forward, this certification is replaced by Azure Database Administrator Associate. Your organization must have at least four individuals pass the following certifications, and each certification listed below must be held by at least one individual: DevOps Engineer Expert Azure Administrator Associate (New) Azure Security Engineer Associate Azure Data Engineer Associate* or Azure Database Administrator Associate *This certification will expire on March 31, 2025. If completed before retirement, it will remain valid for one year. Customers want to know you have the skills they need for their cloud migrations—make sure you meet these new requirements before you apply for a specialization renewal. If you’re unsure about your organization's qualifications for the updated requirements, please check the Infra and Database Migration to Azure specialization page in Partner Center. If you meet the prior requirements at the time of the change and are negatively impacted, you will have a six-month grace period to work toward meeting the new requirements. During this time, an override status will be indicated in Partner Center. As Microsoft marks our 50th anniversary, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued partners and customers. Your unwavering support and collaboration have been instrumental in shaping our journey.
