For Windows Operating Systems, Skillable can optionally provide license activation for Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer and Windows Client (10/11) . Windows Server is licensed under Microsoft's SPLA program while Windows Client is licensed using volume licensing.
If you do not have an agreement with Skillable under this program or with Microsoft directly, all Windows licensing is the responsibility of the lab builder.
Getting Access to Skillable's Windows Licensing
If you do not already have access to Skillable's Windows licensing program and would like to, please reach out to your primary Skillable Contact.
Supported Windows Versions
Skillable currently supports the following windows operating system versions:
Windows Version | Activation Method | Billing Method |
|---|---|---|
Windows Server Essentials | SPLA | |
Windows Server Standard/Datacenter | SPLA | |
Windows Client Enterprise | Volume Activation |
Limits & Cost Considerations
Skillable provided Windows licensing comes in two forms, both based on a Concurrency Model. Concurrency can be defined as the count of "something" active the same time. For Skillable provided Windows licensing, it is either Concurrent RAM or Concurrent User.
Concurrent RAM Model
Windows Server is offered under a Concurrent RAM model. This means there is a maximum amount of RAM running Windows Server labs at any given time. Windows Server concurrent RAM is offered in increments of 1 Terabyte (TB) (1 terabyte is equivalent to 1000GB). Due to the deployment of labs onto a single host, all VMs in a lab (for example, Linux VMs) also apply to the contracted limit.
Example Concurrency Limit:
The below table assumes a Concurrent RAM limit of 1TB.
Number of Students | Lab VMs | Actual RAM | Limit Hit |
|---|---|---|---|
40 Students | 1 Windows (20GB RAM) | 800GB | NO |
50 Students | 1 Windows (20GB RAM) | 1000GB | YES |
50 Students | 1 Windows (10GB RAM) | 1000GB | YES |
50 Students | 1 Linux (20GB RAM) | 1000GB | NO |
Exceeding RAM Limit
If users try to launch labs and their lab would cause the RAM Concurrency limit to be exceeded, the user will receive a lab launch error.
Concurrent User
Windows Client is offered in a Concurrent User model. Concurrency can be defined as the count of "something" active the same time.
Concurrent users are currently offered in increments of 15 or 50 (ex: 15, 30, 50, 100, etc.).
When looking to begin using Skillable Windows Client licensing, you will need to calculate the number of concurrent lab users (learners, instructors, and lab developers) in total you will require to support across all of the labs. This will be used to limit the number of simultaneous lab instances and determine the pricing. The number of licenses can be increased at any time, but are an annual commitment.
Example Concurrency Limit:
The below table assumes a Concurrent User limit of 50.
Student Count | Instructor Count | Lab Dev Count | Total Users | Limit Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
40 Students | 4 Instructors | 0 Lab Devs | 44 | NO |
50 Students | 0 Instructors | 0 Lab Devs | 50 | YES |
40 Students | 5 Instructors | 5 Lab Devs | 50 | YES |
0 Students | 10 Instructors | 1 Lab Devs | 11 | NO |
Exceeding license concurrency
If users try to launch more labs than are allocated to a customer, the user will receive a lab launch error.
Other Software Licensing
Skillable can also supply Microsoft Office licensing on request. For any additional software utilized in your labs, it is the responsibility of the lab builder to ensure any licensing requirements are met. Learn more about software licensing.