Windows Server 2019 per core licensing in VMware esxi hosts

Question

Hello,
I have several Windows Server 2019 standard, virtual machines that run in VMware ESXi hosts that i need to buy licenses for. But would like to confirm about licensing:

• all my virtual machines have a sum of about 100 cores (4 to 8 per vm)
• while my vm hosts (x3) have a sum of 64 only
  === should i consider only host cores (x64) to buy those licenses only?
  === i can use the same key for several vms?

i would like to confirm also, once i go for per core licensing, i won't have to buy CALs for users, is that right?

Thank you in advance,

Answer 1

should i consider only host cores (x64) to buy those licenses only?

Yes, only the host core count matters for licensing.

Some general info (regardless of hypervisor being used)

• 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

Windows Cals are a separate issue.
A Windows Server CAL is a license that grants access Windows Server. CALs are used in conjunction with Microsoft Windows Server OS licenses to allow Users and/or Devices to access and utilize the services of that windows server

• User CALs allow a single user access to Windows Server from an unlimited number of devices
• Device CALs allow an unlimited number of users to access Windows Server from a single device

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Answer 2

Thank you @Anonymous for this reply.
I understand from you that i should go for the host licensing regardless of the number of VMs/v-cores/hypervisor that will be used/configured.
About the CALs, please, i believe that i read that once we go for per core licensing, users no more need CALs to access or consume services running in that operating system environment. I Just would like to confirm that please, if you permit.
Thank you again.

Answer 3

Yes, you're free to over allocate as you like. Windows server licensing is only based on host cores. Windows Cals are a separate issue. If you have users and/or devices that access and utilize the services of that windows server then Cals are required.

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Answer 4

For Server Standard each host will need to be licensed for 32 cores and again for each pair of virtual machines that can be running on it. In the case of a DataCenter license per host all 32 cores need to be licensed but the host can run an unlimited number of virtual machines. Also note if DataCenter licenses were used then besides unlimited virtual machines you could take advantage of AVMA activation and use guests ranging from 2012 R2 up to 2019 or 2022 but in order for this to work the host hypervisor needs to be DataCenter
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/automatic-vm-activation#avma-keys

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