Windows 2019 server standard- 2VM + 1 VM win 10 -2cpu x 10 core - licensing

Question

Hello, i would like to install windows server 2019 standard with 3 virtual machines on a server with 2 cpu with 10 cores each,

the three VMs will be 2 servers 2019 and a windows 10 pro, which licenses should I purchase? can i use the license for windows 10 or do i have to use another server license for the third VM?

could i install windows hyper-v server 2019 and create three VMs without purchasing the 2 additional licenses for the surplus cores?

Answer 1

Some general info

• Each host needs to be licensed.
• A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor and a minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.
• Core licenses are sold in packs of two.
• Standard Edition provides rights for up to 2 Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed. For each additional 1 or 2 VMs, all the physical cores in the server must be licensed again.
• DataCenter Edition provides rights for unlimited Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed.

All cores must be licensed. For the three Server 2019 virtual machines you'll need to license the host cores twice. As to licensing the desktop OS you can read on here.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/8/d/98d6a56c-4d79-40f4-8462-da3ecba2dc2c/licensing_windows_desktop_os_for_virtual_machines.pdf

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