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Microsoft Piracy Plan Means Concerns for IT

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the think-this-one-through dept.

coondoggie writes to mention an article on Information Week about possible unintended consequences of the Microsoft Software Protection Plan (SPP) discussed on Slashdot on Wednesday. The new initiative is intended to protect consumers from pirated software, but may cause major headaches for IT shops. From the article: "Microsoft will support SPP in current and future reporting and asset management tools such as System Center Operations Manager. 'On paper it might sound pretty good, but we have to see how it works,' says Jeff Allred, manager of network services for the Duke University Cancer Center. One of his concerns is that a reduced functionality mode kicks in three days after changing out a motherboard in a server if the software is not revalidated. 'That really jumped out at me. We change out motherboards in our servers all the time,' he says. The provision only covers a swap with a non-OEM motherboard, which Allred admits doesn't happen often."

4 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. This is the correct link to the story by rcb1974 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I believe this is the correct link to the story: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/100506-micro soft-antipiracy.html?t5

  2. Re:Motherboards by silas_moeckel · · Score: 5, Informative

    That would be a lot of servers, I ran a 2500 server shop for a few years and I think I can cound motherboard swap outs on my hands. Hard drives 10-20 a day memory a few a week power supplies about the same but motherboards generaly lasted till the server got decommisioned. Now we did move an OS from one box to another very often and this whole activation garbage would be annoying.

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    No sir I dont like it.
  3. Re:Hey Ed's... by Kevin_Peters · · Score: 3, Informative

    Actual link is to a Network World article. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/100506-micro soft-antipiracy.html?page=1

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    The music is all around us. I can hear it. Can you?
  4. Re:HUH?? by ultranova · · Score: 3, Informative

    Protect consumers from pirated software??? What if I don't want to be protected???

    Then you are clearly a pirate, and as we all know pirates like to hump little cabin boys, making you a pedophile as well. Furthermore, pirates spread terror, so you are a terrorist too. Rot in secret CIA prison after being tortured to death, you enemy combatant scum, you !

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    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.