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Windows 10 Pro VM licensing requirements

Anonymous
2024-01-11T22:30:29+00:00

I have received multiple different answers on this subject, and MS Licensing is in general very difficult to interpret.

I am attempting to understand what licensing is required for the following use-case:

One Windows 10 Pro Virtual Machine, running software that monitors and controls industrial equipment.

It would occasionally be accessed physically with keyboard/mouse/monitor or via RDP to use the aforementioned software for monitoring/changing machine settings.

This VM would be hosted on a computer that runs Proxmox VE or Ubuntu alongside other Linux VMs and containers.

Is a Retail License sufficient for this use case? Or would I be forced into multiple subscriptions/specialized licensing?

If a retail license is not sufficient, then I will have to use a separate physical computer for this purpose. The cost of VDA/Windows Enterprise subscriptions is more than a low-powered PC capable of running the software.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation

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  1. Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-01-11T23:12:34+00:00

    Hi,

    I'm Rodrigo and I'll help you.

    A Retail Windows 10 Pro license or an OEM Windows 10 Pro license will work in your case.

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  2. Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-01-12T16:03:21+00:00

    Yes, the Retail License is enough, Virtual Machines (even in Linus environments) do not require special licensing.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-01-12T15:43:20+00:00

    Thanks for your reply Rodrigo,

    I just want to confirm - the retail license is all I need for this use case? No other Microsoft licensing or subscriptions?

    Again, this would be a Virtual Machine in either Proxmox VE or QEMU in a Linux environment.

    Thank you!

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