Activation Guest Windows Server 2019 STD Host Server 2016

Question

Hello everyone!

I would like to ask a question to the community that no Microsoft reseller has been able to explain to me correctly.

I have a server running Windows Server 2016 DataCenter with two VMs running on Windows Server 2019 Standard and I need to license these two VMs.

I know I can't activate them with the legacy Datacenter license due to being a host with a lower version.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started-19/vm-activation-19

My doubt is:

Can I buy windows license to activate these virtual servers or I can't because I'm the host in lower version and need to upgrade the host?

Answer 1

You're welcome, nothing special and quite simple. After the new 2019 virtual machines have been stood up install new product key and activate
slmgr /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
slmgr /ato

then just hang on to documentation for record keeping and or audit purposes.

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

Answer 2

If you also license the host properly with a Server 2019 Standard license then you can activate and run the two 2019 virtual machines with that new product key. Changing or upgrading the hypervisor wouldn't be required. Any hypervisor could be used as long as the host is properly licensed.

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

Answer 3

Thanks, but I haven't licensed the host server with Windows Server 2019.

Host Server stays on Windows Server 2016 Datacenter!

Can I have guest virtual machines running Windows Server 2019 and buy licenses for these VMs?

Answer 4

Yes, it isn't a problem. You do not need to replace the host OS, you'll just assign that license to this host and use the product key for activation purposes.

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

Answer 5

Thanks!

Would you have the link to perform this procedure?