"IoT" or "not IoT" - that is the question! (Windows 10 IoT FAQ), updated
In this article, we will try to answer frequently asked questions about the differences between the desktop versions of Windows 10 and the so-called “Embedded” versions of Windows 10 (i.e. the versions for embedded device manufacturers) that received the prefix “IoT” from “Internet of Things ".
If in the previous editions these differences were obvious - obviously different names, component structure, use of special tools for the assembly, then for Windows 10, Microsoft, in striving for version unification, made more similar names, technical capabilities, tools, support and promotion policies.
All this led to a lot of questions from users (and even Microsoft employees from other departments!) Regarding the differences between Embedded and non-Embedded versions, how they are licensed, activated, updated, etc.
In this regard, we decided to make a small FAQ with TOP5 questions on embedded versions of Windows 10. We hope this information will be useful to the audience of developers and will help make the right choice of OS version depending on the project.
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1. Question: What is the difference between Windows 10 Enterprise version and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise?
Answer: Consider three aspects of the differences: technical, license and price.
Technically (if we look at the LTSB distribution), these versions are identical. However, for the IoT version you can get a special key (Embedded PKEA) that does not require activation to get started (see the question “Do I need activation for Windows 10 IoT?” ). The key for "normal" Windows 10 Enterprise will require activation on each device.
Also, for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, only one version of the distribution kit is available - LTSB (see below the question “What is the LTSB distribution ..?” )
The license differences are quite significant:
First , the Windows 10 Enterprise license is available only to the end user (organization) and is a personal license for internal use. Its resale to another person is impossible. While the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise license is not personalized , it is delivered through Embedded distributors to assemblers and device manufacturers who can resell this license to an unlimited number of customers along with the device for which it is installed (the so-called OEM license);
Secondly , a Windows 10 Enterprise license can be installed on any computer device, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise can only be installed on a device of specialized use, i.e. "Embedded" or "Embedded" device;
Thirdly , in Windows 10 IoT Enterprise there are 3 licensing options (3 different SKUs), depending on the power (model) of the processor, which is not in the desktop Windows 10 Enterprise, where one edition and one price. This pricing scheme exclusive for IoT / Embedded products allows you to save up to 70% of the price of a desktop counterpart if your device runs on an Atom CPU and up to 50% on a Core i3 / i5 CPU;
Fourthly , Windows 10 IoT Enterprise is supplied to manufacturers in the full version, and Windows 10 Enterprise - only in the “ update ” version and, accordingly, will require the presence of an installed previous version.
Price Differences : Due to optimization for highly specialized PCs, IoT licenses are significantly cheaper than desktop versions and are economically justified in all cases where the device is not a “universal PC”.
2. Question: What is the LTSB distribution and how does it differ from the usual Windows 10 distribution.
Answer: LTSB is the Long Term Servicing Branch (came from Linux terminology) - a special version of the update management policy that allows you to refuse to install functional updates of the operating system for so-called “mission critical” devices, where such an update may entail an unplanned shutdown of the device. Functional updates will be delivered only once every 2-3 years and will be installed at will. Critical fixes and security updates may still be delivered in accordance with the device policy. There is a separate distribution for LTSB, in which there are no: Store UX, Cortana, Edge and applications serviced through the Store (News, Sports, Finance, etc.).
The embedded version of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise is actually Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB.
3. Question: How to purchase Windows 10 Enterprise with LTSB?
Windows 10 Enterprise with LTSB can be purchased in two ways:
4. Question: Is activation required for Windows 10 IoT?
Answer: Unlike Windows 10 Enterprise, the key for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB (called Embedded PKEA) is entered into production and does not require user activation and Internet connection to get started. Later, in the case of connecting to the Internet, the system is activated independently and “silently” without any visible notifications and changes in the operation of the device. If the connection does not happen - the device will continue to work all its life, without requiring activation.
5. Question: What versions of Windows 10 IoT exist?
Answer: There are 2 completely different products with the IoT prefix:
Working with Windows 10 IoT products does not require special development tools, as was the case with Windows Embedded, but to fully utilize all the “embedding” features and to customize the image for certain requirements, there is a free Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD) about which we wrote in detail earlier. ICD is included in the Windows ADK, which can be downloaded here .
Tools are also available to simplify the configuration of a third-party Windows 10 IoT Enterprise image, such as ZereOS Embedded Configuration Manager
We are ready to answer your other questions. Contact, write comments!
You can receive additional consultations, order the development and purchase the Microsoft embedded operating system from the authorized distributor in Russia and the CIS countries Quarta Technologies, www.quarta-embedded.ru
If in the previous editions these differences were obvious - obviously different names, component structure, use of special tools for the assembly, then for Windows 10, Microsoft, in striving for version unification, made more similar names, technical capabilities, tools, support and promotion policies.
All this led to a lot of questions from users (and even Microsoft employees from other departments!) Regarding the differences between Embedded and non-Embedded versions, how they are licensed, activated, updated, etc.
In this regard, we decided to make a small FAQ with TOP5 questions on embedded versions of Windows 10. We hope this information will be useful to the audience of developers and will help make the right choice of OS version depending on the project.
')
1. Question: What is the difference between Windows 10 Enterprise version and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise?
Answer: Consider three aspects of the differences: technical, license and price.
Technically (if we look at the LTSB distribution), these versions are identical. However, for the IoT version you can get a special key (Embedded PKEA) that does not require activation to get started (see the question “Do I need activation for Windows 10 IoT?” ). The key for "normal" Windows 10 Enterprise will require activation on each device.
Also, for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, only one version of the distribution kit is available - LTSB (see below the question “What is the LTSB distribution ..?” )
The license differences are quite significant:
First , the Windows 10 Enterprise license is available only to the end user (organization) and is a personal license for internal use. Its resale to another person is impossible. While the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise license is not personalized , it is delivered through Embedded distributors to assemblers and device manufacturers who can resell this license to an unlimited number of customers along with the device for which it is installed (the so-called OEM license);
Secondly , a Windows 10 Enterprise license can be installed on any computer device, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise can only be installed on a device of specialized use, i.e. "Embedded" or "Embedded" device;
Thirdly , in Windows 10 IoT Enterprise there are 3 licensing options (3 different SKUs), depending on the power (model) of the processor, which is not in the desktop Windows 10 Enterprise, where one edition and one price. This pricing scheme exclusive for IoT / Embedded products allows you to save up to 70% of the price of a desktop counterpart if your device runs on an Atom CPU and up to 50% on a Core i3 / i5 CPU;
Fourthly , Windows 10 IoT Enterprise is supplied to manufacturers in the full version, and Windows 10 Enterprise - only in the “ update ” version and, accordingly, will require the presence of an installed previous version.
Price Differences : Due to optimization for highly specialized PCs, IoT licenses are significantly cheaper than desktop versions and are economically justified in all cases where the device is not a “universal PC”.
2. Question: What is the LTSB distribution and how does it differ from the usual Windows 10 distribution.
Answer: LTSB is the Long Term Servicing Branch (came from Linux terminology) - a special version of the update management policy that allows you to refuse to install functional updates of the operating system for so-called “mission critical” devices, where such an update may entail an unplanned shutdown of the device. Functional updates will be delivered only once every 2-3 years and will be installed at will. Critical fixes and security updates may still be delivered in accordance with the device policy. There is a separate distribution for LTSB, in which there are no: Store UX, Cortana, Edge and applications serviced through the Store (News, Sports, Finance, etc.).
The embedded version of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise is actually Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB.
3. Question: How to purchase Windows 10 Enterprise with LTSB?
Windows 10 Enterprise with LTSB can be purchased in two ways:
- The end user (organization) has a Microsoft Volume License reseller . Only update is available ;
- The manufacturer or integrator is from a Windows Embedded distributor . Full version available. In this case, the product is called “ Windows 10 IoT Enterprise ”.
4. Question: Is activation required for Windows 10 IoT?
Answer: Unlike Windows 10 Enterprise, the key for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB (called Embedded PKEA) is entered into production and does not require user activation and Internet connection to get started. Later, in the case of connecting to the Internet, the system is activated independently and “silently” without any visible notifications and changes in the operation of the device. If the connection does not happen - the device will continue to work all its life, without requiring activation.
5. Question: What versions of Windows 10 IoT exist?
Answer: There are 2 completely different products with the IoT prefix:
- Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB or CBB - the full- featured Windows Enterprise described above for use in a wide range of embedded devices (in three licensing options depending on the processor model - Entry, Value, High End);
- Windows 10 IoT Core is a free, lightweight OS for simple compact devices that support ARM architecture (incompatible with classic Windows applications and devices, does not have its own graphical shell);
Working with Windows 10 IoT products does not require special development tools, as was the case with Windows Embedded, but to fully utilize all the “embedding” features and to customize the image for certain requirements, there is a free Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD) about which we wrote in detail earlier. ICD is included in the Windows ADK, which can be downloaded here .
Tools are also available to simplify the configuration of a third-party Windows 10 IoT Enterprise image, such as ZereOS Embedded Configuration Manager
We are ready to answer your other questions. Contact, write comments!
You can receive additional consultations, order the development and purchase the Microsoft embedded operating system from the authorized distributor in Russia and the CIS countries Quarta Technologies, www.quarta-embedded.ru
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/279521/
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