Windows Server Standard 2019 Hyper-V Activate Windows Server Old Versions

Jose Manuel Chan Espinal 1 Reputation point
2020-12-07T13:48:56.11+00:00

Good morning,

I'm trying to activate Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on a Windows Server 2019 Standard. I know that is possible with Windows Server Datacenter using AVMA but I'm using Standard because I only need 2 virtual machines with this old versions.

My question will be, Is possible uses my Windows Server 2019 Standard to create and activate the license for the virtual machines using hyper-v for windows server 2016 or windows server 2012 R2.

Thanks for the help.

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
3,443 questions
Hyper-V
Hyper-V
A Windows technology providing a hypervisor-based virtualization solution enabling customers to consolidate workloads onto a single server.
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  1. Eric Siron 1,251 Reputation points MVP
    2020-12-09T02:13:44.467+00:00

    TL;DR: You must enter a valid 2012 R2 key into the 2012 R2 instance and a valid 2016 key into the 2016 instance.

    Long version:

    Key != license != activation.

    A key is an alphanumeric series entered into the product key prompts. It is always version-dependent, 100% of the time. A 2019 key will not work on 2016 or vice versa or any other combination. A key does not indicate anything except digital housekeeping.

    Windows Server Standard cannot activate any guests, ever. AVMA is a product feature, not a key or a license. That feature is only found on Datacenter and only functions when a Datacenter edition hosts Windows Server guests. Even then, the key entered into the guest is still version-dependent, 100% of the time.

    If you have a legal license to operate Windows Server on a given piece of hardware, then it conveys a particular set of virtualization rights. Unless you have a modified license (e.g., OEM), then it grants you downgrade rights. This has absolutely nothing to do with any keys. In some cases (usually OEM) you wind up with a legal right to run operating systems for which you have no keys.

    Summary:

    • No key issued for Windows Server 2019 can be used to activate a Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2012 R2 guest. Period.
    • Windows Server Standard does not have the AVMA feature and cannot activate any guest. Period.
    • In order to exercise downgrade RIGHTS on a down-level GUEST, you must still enter a product KEY that matches that operating system version. Period. There is literally no situation in which this is not true, not even under AVMA.

    In other words, the rules for a guest are the same as for a physically-installed OS. A Windows Server 2019 LICENSE allows you to use Windows Server 2016 as your management operating system if that's what you want, but you still have to enter a Windows Server 2016 KEY.

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  2. Les Reeder 31 Reputation points
    2020-12-07T14:04:32.537+00:00

    Shouldn't be a problem at all if you have valid licenses for Server 2016 and Server 2012R2. I have the same setup a server running Hyper-V 2019 with the same VM's you're setting up: 2016 and 2012R2.

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  3. Dave Patrick 426K Reputation points MVP
    2020-12-07T14:09:07.33+00:00

    Is possible uses my Windows Server 2019 Standard to create and activate the license for the virtual machines using hyper-v for windows server 2016 or windows server 2012 R2.

    It isn't possible unless the host is a DataCenter host. A Windows Server 2019 Standard host can activate up to two Windows Server 2019 Standard guest virtual machines using the same product key as used on host.

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

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  4. Jose Manuel Chan Espinal 1 Reputation point
    2020-12-07T15:22:17.107+00:00

    DSPatrick,

    Only having Windows Datacenter so you are saying that the windows standard can only activate license with the same version. There is no way to use the license that I have to make it work.

    Thank for the help.

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  5. Dave Patrick 426K Reputation points MVP
    2020-12-07T15:28:12.977+00:00

    Yes, A Windows Server 2019 Standard host can activate up to two Windows Server 2019 Standard guest virtual machines using the same product key as used on host.

    Some general info below

    • 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.
    • AVMA keys can be used only when the host is DataCenter edition

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Licensing/learn-more/volume-licensing-briefs?activetab=volume-licensing-briefs-tab:primaryr2
    https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/C/E/7CED6910-C7B2-4196-8C55-208EE0B427E2/Windows_Server_2019_licensing_datasheet_EN_US.pdf

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

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