Windows 2022 Standard on a cluster

Question

Hi, we are using clusters configure like this: 2 node with each 2 processor for a total of 16 core per node. We are running these clusters with one node active one passive.

A total of 4 VM will be running almost all the time on the active node but on failure will transfer on the passive one. How Windows Server 2022 standard 16 core do we need to be legit?

One on each node or two on each?

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.

You need to license each host for the max VMs that could be on it at any given time (even for one second) It sounds like you said each host has two eight core processors for a total of 16. So to run four VMs max per host, each host should be licensed for 32 cores.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 2

Hey,

As mentioned, each host should be licensed. You will need to 2x 16 core packs licenses to run 4 VMs simultaneously on one host. In addition, you should not forget about user/device CALs. Might be helpful: https://petri.com/understanding-windows-server-2022-licensing/

In addition, you can use 2 nodes to run your VMs in a Active-Active cluster. StarWind VSAN can be used as a replicated shared storage for Failover Cluster. Check for more information: https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san

Cheers,    
Alex Bykovskyi    
StarWind Software    
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