How to licence VMs (standard) with Windows server 2022 Datacentre OEM on Esxi

Question

good day, the customer purchased windows server 2022 datacenter OEM and wants to license individual virtual servers with this license, on the ESXI platform, standard version. Core and the number of licenses are correct, I am concerned with how to correctly activate these licenses on virtual servers, what is Microsoft's position, what do they recommend? I couldn't find anything official anywhere, after consulting with the server manufacturer, Microsoft support, T1 partners, tenant support, etc., no one actually knows what to do with it and how to activate it correctly so that it meets Microsoft's conditions. Microsoft support itself does not know what to do at all and cannot advise.

Answer 1

Only the host is licensed. Virtual machines are only activated. To activate a guest it is simply;

slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
slmgr /ato

A DataCenter license provides for unlimited hosting but does not provide unlimited activations of host product key. In order to make use of unlimited hosting you should install a DataCenter host and use AVMA activations. This also provides the benefit of allowing activation ranging from Server 2012 R2 to Server 2022 both editions.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/automatic-vm-activation

When you use another hypervisor the only option is to install DataCenter guests and reuse the product key over and over, but unlimited activations of the host product key is not possible and at some point you'll run out at which time you'll need to contact microsoft in order to reset the activations count.

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Answer 2

the customer purchased windows server 2022 datacenter OEM

The customer should have receive a sticker inside is server box with the activation code to use, it's as simple as using that code.

Technically speaking the sticker should be put to the server, as it's a OEM's licence, tied to that host.

I would add; does the customer ordered the oem media kit too ? I ask as the cutomer might need an media to install it, as if the customer dont have any datacenter inside their licensing, he would be missing the media to install, and sometime the OEM vendor stick the activation code to the media kit.

Answer 3

Thank you very much for the replies, I appreciate it. I assume AVMA or KMS is applicable in case of hyperV. Yes, this is probably the only solution I found, use an oem license, activate all vms with this code, and in case of malfunction, contact Microsoft for an increase after use. I am mainly concerned with some official position of Microsoft or some document that the customer can rely on, it is very important for them and in case of need they can rely on this document issued by Microsoft. I understand the relationship of MVP users, but I'm not sure if this can be used as an official statement? if you understand me

Answer 4

The official EULA can be found here.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/UseTerms/Retail/WindowsServer2022/DatacenterAndStandard/UseTerms_Retail_WindowsServer2022_DatacenterAndStandard_English.htm

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Answer 5

so if I wanted to activate individual vms with a datacenter activation key, that means I use one key several times, can I use this key to activate the standard version without having to upgrade the license from standard to datacenter?