CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)Server AdministrationMedium
A server administrator is conducting a routine audit of server licenses. The audit reveals that a particular operating system is installed on 15 virtual machines, but the organization only possesses 10 licenses for that OS. The licensing agreement states that each VM instance requires a separate license. What is the immediate action the administrator must take to ensure compliance?
- APurchase 5 additional licenses for the operating system.
- BDecommission 5 of the virtual machines running the OS.
- CReinstall the OS on 5 VMs with a different, unlicensed version.
- DIgnore the discrepancy, as virtual machine licenses are often pooled.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Purchase 5 additional licenses for the operating system.
To ensure compliance when under-licensed, the immediate and correct action is to acquire the necessary additional licenses to cover all active installations. Decommissioning or changing OS would resolve the non-compliance but purchasing licenses is the most direct solution.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Decommissioning VMs is a valid way to achieve compliance but may impact business operations. Purchasing licenses is generally the preferred first step if the VMs are needed.
- C. Reinstalling with an unlicensed version would maintain non-compliance or introduce new licensing issues.
- D. Ignoring the discrepancy is a violation of licensing terms and can lead to legal penalties; virtual machine licensing rules vary but are not generally 'pooled' without specific agreements.
Software Licensing Compliance
Software licensing compliance refers to adhering to the terms and conditions of software licenses, ensuring that an organization has the legal right to use all installed software according to the vendor's agreements.
- Avoids legal penalties and fines
- Requires accurate asset tracking
- Can involve per-device, per-user, or per-core models
Memory trick: License compliance: Count your copies, buy your rights, avoid the fines!