Windows Server 2022 licensing partial VM update

Question

If I have a Vmware 1 10 Core CPU, with 2 Windows Server 2012 and 2 Windows Server 2016 virtual machines, and I want to upgrade only the Windows Server 2012 virtual machines to Windows Server 2022 standard, what standard Win2022 licensing is required? The win2022 Licensing guide https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/product-licensing/windows-server is not clear on this situation. From what is interpreted, it would be that if I have a virtualization server, 1 10 Core CPU, with 4 MVs (2Win2012 + 2 Win2016), and I only want to update Win2012 to Win2022, and regardless of the version they end up with, I must cover as if they were all left with Win2022. Example of Interpretation; The base is covered according to the cores with the minimum of 16 Win2022 STD Core licenses. This also covers 2 of the 4 Mvs, but a second package of 16 Win2022 STD Core licenses is required for the 2 remaining Windows VMs. The dilemma is basically why you should buy the 16 additional Core licenses if in the end you are not going to update but 2 of the 4 VMs with Windows Server (if the Win2016 will remain the same and only the Win2012 will be updated to Win2022. I appreciate, the answers confirm or correct me please

Answer 1

Hi Juan Diego Chica Salazar

Based on the information you provided, you will need to purchase enough Windows Server 2022 Standard Core licenses to cover your Windows Server 2012 virtual machines. According to Microsoft's licensing policy, you need to purchase a minimum of 16 core licenses per physical processor and a minimum of 8 core licenses per virtual machine. So, if your virtualized server has 10 core processors, you'll need to purchase at least 160 core licenses to cover all of your virtual machines. If you only want to upgrade your Windows Server 2012 virtual machines, you can purchase enough core licenses to cover them without having to purchase additional licenses.

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Lei

Answer 2

Yes, you can contact Microsoft Assistant Support team. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type "Slui 4" (without quotes) and press Enter.
3. Select your country or region from the list and click Next.
4. Call the telephone number provided and follow the instructions to activate OS.

For more information about phone activation, please refer to Volume License Key Phone Numbers | Microsoft Volume Licensing.

Answer 3

I think you're wrong. where do you get the figure of 160 licenses.

See if with the 16 HArware base you already have 2 MVs, it would only be 2 MVs remaining, taking us to the extremes that if we had to license all 2 MVs. You would only be purchasing another 1 pack of 16 as each pack covers one pair. Arithmetically the thing would be: 16 (Core Base) + 16x(1 pairs of Mvs that remain to be covered) = 16+16= 32, 32 would be the total at the extreme, covering the 2 MVs that remain with Win2022 + the 2 MVs that remain with win2016.

But alternatively, if we talk about only having to license the ones that remain with Win2022, it would only be the 16 core licenses.

Is there a way to get a response from a licensing specialist?