Windows Server 2019 - Virtual Box & Hyper-V licensing questions

Question

Hello,

I want to setup a host machine with Windows Server 2019 Standard Edition with two VM 2019 on Hyper-V running Windows Server as guest OS, which is OK and allowed by the Standard Edition license.

But I have 2 questions:

1) Am I allowed to run a VirtualBox on the host machine to run some Linux machines on it (or other licensed OS-es)? That hypervisor will be the only software running on the host machine.

2) If not, may I add more VM instances on Hyper-V that are not running Windows Server 2019 OS (assuming of course that I have license for the other guest OS-es)?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Some general info

• Each host needs to be licensed.
• A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor and a minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.
• Core licenses are sold in packs of two.
• Standard Edition provides rights for up to 2 Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed. For each additional 1 or 2 VMs, all the physical cores in the server must be licensed again.
• DataCenter Edition provides rights for unlimited Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed.

Hyper-v role should be the only role installed on host. Installing other roles or applications takes away one guest Operating System Environment

Another option for you is the free hypervisor here
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2019

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

Answer 2

These are technical forums. For complex legal licensing questions better to reach out to your reseller's trained microsoft licensing specialist or ask microsoft directly.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worldwide.aspx

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

Answer 3

Hello

Thank you for your question and reaching out.

I can understand that you are having queries regarding Hyper-V Licensing.

1. VirtualBox should not be allow on this Hyper-V host.
2. Please note that you are allowed to run two Virtual Machines in Standard edition and beyond that you can use purchase Datacenter edition to host more ( unlimited) VMs, also you need to get separate OS Licenses for guest OS as well.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/pricing

https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/C/E/7CED6910-C7B2-4196-8C55-208EE0B427E2/Windows_Server_2019_licensing_datasheet_EN_US.pdf

---

--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept as answer--