Windows Server 2022 Licensing with Dowgraderights

Question

Hello,

we want to buy for our new Server the windows server volume license standard.

On the Server is currently Windows Server 2019 installed with Hyper-V role, and 5 VM's total (4x Windows 2016 and one with 2019).
(10 cores x 2 Sockets = 20 Total)

Now we thought about buying a Volume license 2022 Windows Standard 60 Cores with Cals, but our reseller says now we could run the license with downrights on 2019 or 2016 but not on the same time on both versions. Is that correct?

Do i need buy for the older versions a seperate license ? Or if one day we had license audit from Microsoft we are good to go just with the 2022 license?

Can we activate the machines with key from newer version? Would the 2022 Key still work if get a downgradekey of 2019 and 2016 and so on?

(We are on premise, and not evry server can be upgraded to the newest windows server version)

Answer 1

Hello @ShadgaAF

For this scenario, it would be recommended to get in touch with a Microsoft Authorized reseller to calculate the requirements and licenses pricing on your locations.

You can find your closest partners here:

https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/partner-dir

Hope this helps with your query,

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Answer 2

but not on the same time on both versions. Is that correct?

Yes, correct

Can we activate the machines with key from newer version?

No, a 2022 product key cannot be used to activate Server 2019 (or 2016) The simplest solution for you may be to ask the seller to provide the downgrade product keys since contacting microsoft directly these days is near impossible to do. Optionally since a volume license is involved you can email them here.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/supportrequestform/2afa6f15-b710-db46-909a-8346017c802f?sl=en&sc=US

Anoth option I'll throw out there is if the host were a Server 2022 DataCenter then it could host an unlimited number of guests ranging from Server 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022 using AVMA keys for activation.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/automatic-vm-activation#avma-keys

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Answer 3

if i got datacenter i could use these avma keys under your link, to activate my virtual machines ? And standard does not support that, even if i got all the cores-license to cover my additionals VM's.

That's correct AVMA can only be used with a DataCenter host.

Another question would be if i got the 2022 standard key, which covers all my servers + vms, but lets say i activate my 2019/2016 with my old key, would that be still in the terms of "downgrade rights" and a license audit?

One should not have anything to do with the other.

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Answer 4

Since you're now asking about a volume license (maybe software assurance?) These are technical forums not legal ones. I'd suggest asking them directly. email volume licensing service.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/supportrequestform/2afa6f15-b710-db46-909a-8346017c802f?sl=en&sc=US

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Answer 5

They're always way behind with this sort of documentation but things haven't changed, you can follow along here.
https://download.microsoft.com/download/6/8/9/68964284-864d-4a6d-aed9-f2c1f8f23e14/downgrade_rights.pdf

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