Windows Server Licensing

Question

kindly suggest how many windows server standard licenses I need to purchase with respect to below mentioned scenario:

Environment: VMware vSphere ESXi platform with 100 virtual machines (max 4vCPU per VM).

Physical Server : 2 CPU with 16-core each (16x02 = 32 Cores) No. of Physical Server: 03

Query:

1. Can we license physical (ESXi) cores . if that is the case then how we can license them. kindly share method of activation
2. If the above option is not feasible, can we use 2x2-core licenses for

4 core VM instances . Is it possible ? As using 16-core license for each VM instance is wastage of core licensing

Kindly advise as we need to finalize the requirements. waiting for an early response.

Answer 1

Hi Syed Ehtisham Ali,

each license covers up to 2 physical processors and up to 16 cores per processor. Regarding your queries:

1. Yes, you can license physical (ESXi) cores. To license the physical cores, you would need to purchase Windows Server Standard licenses for each physical processor in your environment. For example, if you have 3 physical servers with 2 CPUs each, you would need to purchase 6 Windows Server Standard licenses. To activate the licenses, you can use the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) or Key Management Service (KMS).
2. No, you cannot use 2x2-core licenses for 4 core VM instances. Each license covers up to 16 cores per processor, so you would need to purchase a full license for each VM instance.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Lei