Is the Essentials version dead as of the release of Windows Server 2022?

Question

I've read on some pretty reputable websites that the release of Windows Server 2022 will only include the editions as follows:

Standard
Datacenter
Datacenter Azure

Can anyone confirm this?

Answer 1

Yes, no Essesntial 2022 or Semi-Annual Channel version
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/kmsclientkeys

Answer 2

Hi ,
Yes you have heard it right WS 2022 will be available in three versions:

1. Windows Server 2022 Standard,
2. Data centre
3. Data centre Azure.

https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2021/03/02/announcing-windows-server-2022-now-in-preview/

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Answer 3

The reason I asked is because I heard it would be offered via OEMs. It looks like that is the case. Essentials 2022 will only be offered through OEMs and on single socket servers with a maximum of 10 physical cores, meaning it has also gone from socket-based licensing to per core licensing.

Thank you for confirmation on the VL piece.