Windows Server 2019 Licensing

Question

Hello,
I am confused regarding the Windows Server Licensing. I would really appreciate if you can help me.

I have a 32 core Server. If I buy a WS2019 Standard Edition, I can not have more than 2 VMs on it, even if those VMs are Ubuntu/Linux, correct?
If there are only two WS2019 VMs on this Server/Host, will those VMs be already licensed since I have licensed the Host? Or I will need to buy licenses for the Each Guest VMs which in this case
would be extra 2 x 32 core (as the host)? Correct?

Lets suppose that I have 2 VMs licensed with WS 2012 on a Licensed Host with WS2019 Standard Edition 32 core. I want to have 3 more WS2019 VMs on this Host. How many new licenses, do I need to buy: 3x32 core, correct?

If I go with WS2019 Datacenter Edition which has Unlimited VMs. In this case unlimited, does it just means that I am just allowed to have as many VMs I want, but still I will need to buy licenses
for each WS2019 that I would need to buy?

Thank You very much,

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.

With a Standard license you activate the guests using the same product key as was used on the host.

DataCenter Edition provides rights for unlimited Operating System Environments in addition you can use AVMA for activation of guests ranging from 2012 R2 to 2019 (or 2022 if the host is 2022)
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/automatic-vm-activation#avma-keys

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

Hi there,

Windows Server 2022 Standard is intended for lightly virtualized environments, and it includes rights for 2 VMs and unlimited containers. If you want to run additional VMs, then you will need to purchase additional licenses

Windows Server Standard Edition license includes permission for two OSEs or VMs.

Licensing Windows Server 2019 - Microsoft

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

If you need to run three or more virtual instances of Windows Server, then you buy more licenses for the host. Each time you satisfy the licensing requirements, you have the legal right to run another two Windows Server Standard instances. Due to the per-core licensing model introduced with Windows Server 2016, the minimums vary based on the total number of cores in a system.

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Answer 3

article it is stated that you do not need extra license for the WS2019 Host

Sounds like you may be looking for the free hypervisor
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2019

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