vmware esxi windows server 2019 license

Question

I installed vmware esxi on lenovo st50 server computer and installed virtual windows server 2019 standard on esxi.

Now I am trying to purchase a Windows server 2019 license -16 core

1. https://www.cdw.ca/product/microsoft-windows-server-2019-standard-license-16-cores/5393276?enkwrd=7s050015w
2. https://www.cdw.ca/product/microsoft-windows-server-2019-standard-license-16-cores/5452311?pfm=srh

Among the various types of licensees, I found two.

One seems to be a license that supports the server computer I have, and the other is a normal license.

Which license should I purchase for Activating Virtual Windows Server 2019?

Thank you

Answer 1

Sounds like you'll need a Windows Server Standard 2019 license, according to the host cores count.

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

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Answer 2

If you compare both license both can be used. It cover your system core as DSPatrick's told.

I would suggest that one from cdw; https://www.cdw.ca/product/microsoft-windows-server-2019-standard-license-16-cores/5452311?pfm=srh, the standards's one.

The other's one I would ask from your IBM re-vendor for a price, as you would need to order a vendor media kit to have the physical media with it. That one is often prebuild with your system driver, but it's more valid if you use the software as a hypervisor, in a VM it mean nothing much at that point as the VM can be used with any install media. It's worth asking cdw if they provide the media with the purchase. Check that to know the ROK's option. (https://www.techdata.ca/content/cen/microsoft/microsoft-beyond/images/ResellerOption.pdf)