TechNet Subscriptions?

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 14:24

Hi all

Just curious if anyone here uses a TechNet Subscription as i am thinking of signing up to help with my I.T development. I am looking to study MCDST and work my way from there and i just wanted to know if anyone has any experience with the TechNet Subscriptions and the software they offer.

I am also very interested in learning Servers (mainly server 2008 r2 as thats in my airport work environment) and from what i gather i may be wrong though with a TechNet Subscription would i have access to software such as Server 2008 R2? If so I guess the license will expire perhaps after a year but im just not sure if i can afford the standard TechNet Subscription fee of £130+ and if it would be worthwhile.

I have looked into Windows Home Server 2011 but i dont think it will have the features of 2008 r2 which i really want to learn like AD etc

Would really appreciate any advice

Thanks so much

Showboat · 31 Jul 2012 at 14:38

You don't need a technet sub to use 2008 r2.
Download an iso and use it, you will have 90 days to activate it, after 90 days you will get an error message when you logon saying its not activated and you could be the victim of counterfeiting, but it will still work 100%.

Of course after 90 days you will stop using it.....

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 14:46

Thanks for that mate, the problem is im looking to use it for longer than 90 days really. I am looking to setup my own home domain to learn and understand it better. I am looking to perhaps take an exam sometime next year but really want to keep on top of my learning which is why i thought maybe a TechNet Subscription might give me a yearly server 2008 license to play with.

I had looked into buying server 2008 r2 out right but at nearly £500 i really cant afford that

Uhtred · 31 Jul 2012 at 15:06

Personally I use the 90 days, it's long enough to do some serious learning and I'm a fan of repetition in order to learn, so after 90 days, delete the VM and rebuild the domain, it really doesn't take long to do.

Saying that, technet is great value for money, so if you can justify it then it's a great resource to have.

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 15:45

Cool thanks for that mate much appreciated sounds like a good idea.

Do you happen to know though if you get a server 2008 license with the standard technet subscription and if so how long would it be valid for?

theheyes · 31 Jul 2012 at 15:47

Forever.

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 15:50

Oh right never knew that, might well be a good investment then for my future studies as well great stuff!!

Once i sign up to the TechNet is it a matter of downloading the software from them rather than them sending me things?

theheyes · 31 Jul 2012 at 15:52

Well, I should qualify that - I think in the T&Cs it states that "you are licensed to use it during an active subscription."

And yes, you just download the software and request the keys.

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 15:56

Oh wow thanks so much for your help with this im really grateful. I just wasn't sure if i could sign up to this myself or if i had to be part of some buisness as when i was looking at the sign up page it was asking for a VAT ID Number

theheyes · 31 Jul 2012 at 15:57

Nope, you can sign up as an individual - just be aware those prices are +VAT.

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 16:03

Thanks for the heads up mate about the VAT forgot about that! Im going to have a think about it and see if the Subscription will suit my needs.

Thanks again mate

theheyes · 31 Jul 2012 at 16:06

No worries.

It is worth it in my opinion. Why don't you see if your employer would consider contributing to the cost?

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 16:39

Thats a good idea i work for an IT based company at my local airport so could be worth a shout, I just wanna make sure exactly what i get with the standard version as at work we run server 2008 r2 and all our machines are XP Pro so as long as i would be able to get 2 XP Pro licenses and 1 Server 2008 r2 license i could setup and test my own domain at home

theheyes · 31 Jul 2012 at 17:51

I had a quick look for you - yes you can get 1x 2008 R2 and 2x Windows XP Pro keys.

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 18:22

Fantastic thanks so much mate! Just been having a look around myself actually and from what i gather with the standard subscription you get 2 license's per product. So would i be right in saying that Windows 7 Home Premium would be one product that i would be allowed 2 licenses for and Windows 7 Pro would be a different product so i would be allowed 2 licenses for that as well?

I am going to be setting up around 4 virtual machines to connect to my server 2008 domain to get me started with playing around with AD and group policies etc

m4cc45 · 31 Jul 2012 at 18:26

Correct. You get multiple activations so you can have several VM's running different OS's. The great thing is you will also get a Windows 8 activation when it's available and pretty much any new product.

It's great value for money - especially when you get the full blown SQL, Exchange, Lync, etc. thrown in.

Well worth paying out for in my opinion.

M.

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 18:50

Thanks for that matey im going to subscribe right now

theheyes · 31 Jul 2012 at 18:54

I'm not sure if they've changed it recently but Home versions aren't showing up anymore, but then you couldn't join them to a domain anyway.

liamcrane · 31 Jul 2012 at 18:58

Oh right i wasn't actually aware "Home" versions of windows cold not join a domian? Is it only proffesional and enterprise that are capable of this? I know i wont have access to enterprise editions on a standard subscription but as long as there is a few PRO operating systems available i should be ok hopefully

theheyes · 31 Jul 2012 at 19:14

Nope, Home versions don't join to domains (it's one of the differentiating features between Home and Pro/Enterprise/Ultimate)

The Pro versions are there you'll be pleased to know. There is definitely enough there for a single subscriber to start testing they just aren't as liberal with the keys any more.