Is Windows 2022 Datacenter Digital License have the same

Question

I have some questions about Windows Server 2022 with the datacenter version

1- What is the difference between digital license, MAK and retail in terms of the number of copies of VMs

2- Is digital license the same as retail?

3- When working with copies of windows server datacenter digital license or MAK, will I need a new, separate paid license for each VM, especially if it is vmware esxi

4- Does the number of copies of VMs if it is unlimited without paying a new price after paying the price of windows server datacenter digital or MAK also apply to vmware esxi Thank you

Answer 1

Hello

Difference between Digital License, MAK, and Retail in terms of VMs:

Digital License: This is typically tied to your Microsoft account and can be used to activate Windows without needing a product key. It allows for unlimited VMs on a licensed server.

MAK: This type of license allows a specific number of activations. Once the limit is reached, no more activations can be done without purchasing additional licenses.

Retail: This is a one-time purchase license that can be transferred to another machine. It also allows for unlimited VMs on a licensed server, similar to the digital license.

Is Digital License the same as Retail?

Not exactly. While both can be used to activate Windows and allow for unlimited VMs on a licensed server, a digital license is tied to your Microsoft account, whereas a retail license is a product key that can be transferred between machines.

Licensing for each VM with Digital License or MAK on VMware ESXi:

With a Digital License or Retail License for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter, you do not need a separate paid license for each VM. The Datacenter edition allows for unlimited VMs on a licensed server.

For MAK, you would need to use one of your activations for each VM, which could require additional purchases if you exceed your activation limit.

Unlimited VMs on VMware ESXi:

The unlimited VM benefit of the Windows Server 2022 Datacenter edition applies regardless of the virtualization platform, including VMware ESXi. Once you have a Datacenter license, you can run an unlimited number of Windows Server VMs on that licensed server without additional costs.

Best Regards,

Hania Lian

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