Windows Server 2016 moved to a Core + Client Access License (CAL) model
1)Hyper V Edition-Hyper-V Server is a free version of Server 2016 that it meant for running the Hyper-V role only. Its purpose is to be a hypervisor for your virtual environment only. It does not have a GUI. It’s essentially a stripped out version of Server Core
2)Datacenter Edition for highly virtualized private and hybrid cloud environments.
Licensing Model---Core Based. Make sure you don’t accidentally choose this edition on install on a physical server that won’t host virtual machines. You’ll be out several thousands of dollars should Microsoft request a license audit. CALs are required for every user or device that connects indirectly or directly to the servers in your environment.
Learn more from Microsoft and Download the licensing sheet here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-cy/cloud-platform/windows-server-pricing
3)Standard Edition for non-virtualized or lightly virtualized environments.
Licensing Model---Core based. CALs are required for every user or device that connects indirectly or directly to the server. For example, if you use the server as a file server you will need a CAL for every user account or computer that access that file server on the network.
Hardware Limits --Standard is limited a max of 24TB of RAM and 512 cores.
4)Essential Edition for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices CPU based. NO CAL. Hardware limit 2CPU + 64Gb RAM Limit
As you have 4 CPU (approx 16 cores) + 16Gb RAM -- You mostly would need standard edition with 16 core licenses.
At high level cost can be approx 2000$
Win 2016 --Main Support End Date 1/11/2022
Extended support 2027 year
4CPU & 16 Core calculation -- Mostly 4CPU are 16 cores. The main difference between CPU and Core is that the CPU is an electronic circuit inside the computer that carries out instruction to perform arithmetic, logical, control and input/output operations while the CORE is an execution unit inside EACH CPU that receives and executes instructions.
Price Break Between Standard and Datacenter Edition
Your server using the Standard version allows you to purchase VMs in sets of two. Each time you cover all your cores with a Standard license (or meet the 16-core minimum) you have permission to spin up an additional two VMs. But if you license your server for the Datacenter version, you can run an unlimited number of VMs, which raises the question: At what point is it cheaper to buy Datacenter rather than purchase multiple sets of Standard licenses?
I’ve crunched the numbers so you don’t have to. The answer is 13 VMs. If you need to run 13 or more VMs on your host, then you should purchase Datacenter licenses. If you need 12 or less, then it is cheaper to buy Standard licenses.
For further details, you can contact a Microsoft partner on your country or Microsoft directly.
Expecting you get discounted licensing as 2019 is already out
Refer attached docs.
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Regards,
J.D.
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees, and confers no rights.52850-windowsserver2016-licensing-guide.pdf[52809-windowsserver2016-licensing-guide.pdf][2]52952-licensing-brief-plt-introduction-to-microsoft-core.pdf