"You may install the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on a single computer ("Workstation
Computer") for use as interactive workstation software, but not as server
software. However, you may permit a maximum of ten (10) computers to connect to
the Workstation Computer to access and use services of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT,
such as file and print services and peer web services."
--Microsoft's license agreement
for Windows NT Workstation
Just behind the front lines of the Web browser war, a Web server battle has
been raging between O'Reilly & Associates and Microsoft. Caught in the
firing line is Windows NT Workstation (NTW) 4.0, exposing its license and
technology to public scrutiny.
Round 1
Microsoft offers its Internet Information Server (IIS)
for "free" with Windows NT Server (NTS), but limits IIS to running on
NTS. Other Web server vendors respond by selling their Web servers on NTW so
that the combined price of their solution is lower than NTS with IIS.
During the NTW 4.0 beta cycle, Microsoft adds some code that enforces a
10-connection limit by restricting the total number of TCP/IP connections
possible in a 10-minute period. This restriction causes Web servers that run on
NTW to fail and outrages the user community. After a few tense weeks and calls
from its largest customers, Microsoft backs down, removing the hard limit from
the released product.
Round 2
The user community celebrates its victory for a few
weeks, only to discover that Microsoft has changed the license agreement for the
final product. The NTW 4.0 license agreement reads as you see quoted at the head
of this article.
In this round, several vendors interpret "...not as server software"
to be anti-competitive because it prevents them from running their software on
NTW. Microsoft responds by giving a 50% discount to upgrade to NTS. In addition,
Microsoft claims that NTW and NTS are technically different products and
that running a Web server on NTS significantly improves performance over running
on NTW.
The term technically different prompts O'Reilly to investigate just
how alike NTW and NTS are. The company works with Dr. Mark Russinovich to
document any differences. He finds that, at core, NTW and NTS are the same
product but tuned differently (for details, see Russinovich's article, "Inside
the Difference Between Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server," page
101).
In response, at www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/ntwvnts.htm, Microsoft
acknowledges the similarities but points out that NTS comes with additional
software and client licenses.
Round 3
Some IS users believe that they are violating the new
license: Establishing connections to more than 10 computers simply happens too
easily. For example, suppose your NT workstation is connected to five computers
for files and two computers for printers, you let three people connect to your
workstation, and it runs a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) service that
receives email--you're over the limit.
Meanwhile, Windows 95 has no such limits. This interesting oversight means
that in the process of restricting NTW, Microsoft has made Win95 legally more
powerful than NT. So is Win95 the best choice for small Web servers?
Technically, no. Legally, yes.
There's a Pony in This Pile
The hard limit on connections was a
disaster. First, it caused a public-relations firestorm. Second, the limit
focused users on connections instead of computers.
Let me clarify. After several conversations with Microsoft, I've learned
that up to 10 simultaneous inbound computers can access the services on
NTW, and each of these 10 computers can have as many connections as necessary. I
conclude that there is no limit on connections and you can run whatever you want
on NTW, including a Web server!
The catch is that until Microsoft provides a way to monitor the number of
inbound computers, users will have to devise their own methods of compliance. If
you buy NTW as a way to serve unlimited users, you're out of luck.
Round 4?
Most NTW 4.0 users can live comfortably within the new
license restrictions. However, some of Microsoft's largest customers have
configurations that violate the agreement. Microsoft has agreed to work with
International Data Corporation (IDC) and Windows NT Magazine to
investigate the current use of NTW. If you believe your ordinary use of NTW will
violate the license, please email me. I'll keep you posted as this story
unfolds.