Explore Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows VMs
For customers with Software Assurance or subscription licenses, Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server allows you to use your on-premises Windows Server licenses to get Windows virtual machines on Azure at a reduced cost. You can use Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server to deploy new virtual machines with Windows OS. This article goes over the steps on how to deploy new VMs with Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server and how you can update existing running VMs. For more information about Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server licensing and cost savings, see the Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server licensing page.
You'll need a minimum of 8 core licenses (Datacenter or Standard edition) per virtual machine. You may also run instances larger than 8 cores by allocating licenses equal to the core-size of the instance. For example, 12 core licenses are required for a 12-core instance, however 8 core licenses are still required if you run a 4-core instance. For customers with processor licenses, each two core processor license is equivalent to 16 core licenses.
Using Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server with any VMs running Windows Server OS are now supported in all regions, including VMs with additional software such as SQL Server or third-party marketplace software.
Classic VMs
For classic VMs, only deploying new VM from on premises custom images is supported. To take advantage of the capabilities supported in this article, you must first migrate classic VMs to Resource Manager model.
Important
VMs created through the classic deployment model will be retired on September 1, 2023.
If you use IaaS resources from Azure Service Management, please complete your migration by September 1, 2023. We encourage you to make the switch sooner to take advantage of the many feature enhancements in Azure Resource Manager.
For more information, see Migrate your IaaS resources to Azure Resource Manager by September 1, 2023.
Ways to use Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server
There are few ways to use Windows virtual machines with the Azure Hybrid Benefit:
- You can deploy VMs from one of the provided Windows Server images on the Azure Marketplace
- You can upload a custom VM and deploy using a Resource Manager template or Azure PowerShell
- You can toggle and convert existing VM between running with Azure Hybrid Benefit or pay on-demand cost for Windows Server
- You can also apply Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server on virtual machine scale set as well
Create a VM with Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server
All Windows Server OS based images are supported for Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server. You can use Azure platform support images or upload your own custom Windows Server images.
Portal
To create a VM with Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server, scroll to the bottom of the Basics tab during the creation process and under Licensing check the box to use an existing Windows Server license.
PowerShell
New-AzVm `
-ResourceGroupName "myResourceGroup" `
-Name "myVM" `
-Location "East US" `
-ImageName "Win2016Datacenter" `
-LicenseType "Windows_Server"
CLI
az vm create \
--resource-group myResourceGroup \
--name myVM \
--location eastus \
--license-type Windows_Server
Template
Within your Resource Manager templates, an additional parameter licenseType
must be specified. You can read more about authoring Azure Resource Manager templates.
"properties": {
"licenseType": "Windows_Server",
"hardwareProfile": {
"vmSize": "[variables('vmSize')]"
}
}
Convert an existing VM using Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server
If you have an existing VM that you would like to convert to take advantage of Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server, you can update your VM's license type by following the instructions below.
Note
Changing the license type on the VM does not cause the system to reboot or cause a service interuption. It is simply an update to a metadata flag.
Portal
From portal VM blade, you can update the VM to use Azure Hybrid Benefit by selecting "Configuration" option and toggle the "Azure hybrid benefit" option
PowerShell
Convert existing Windows Server VMs to Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server
$vm = Get-AzVM -ResourceGroup "rg-name" -Name "vm-name" $vm.LicenseType = "Windows_Server" Update-AzVM -ResourceGroupName rg-name -VM $vm
Convert Windows Server VMs with benefit back to pay-as-you-go
$vm = Get-AzVM -ResourceGroup "rg-name" -Name "vm-name" $vm.LicenseType = "None" Update-AzVM -ResourceGroupName rg-name -VM $vm
CLI
Convert existing Windows Server VMs to Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server
az vm update --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myVM --set licenseType=Windows_Server
How to verify your VM is utilizing the licensing benefit
Once you've deployed your VM through either PowerShell, Resource Manager template or portal, you can verify the setting in the following methods.
Portal
From portal VM blade, you can view the toggle for Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server by selecting "Configuration" tab.
PowerShell
The following example shows the license type for a single VM
Get-AzVM -ResourceGroup "myResourceGroup" -Name "myVM"
Output:
Type : Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines
Location : westus
LicenseType : Windows_Server
This output contrasts with the following VM deployed without Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server licensing:
Type : Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines
Location : westus
LicenseType :
CLI
az vm get-instance-view -g MyResourceGroup -n MyVM --query "[?licenseType=='Windows_Server']" -o table
Note
Changing the license type on the VM does not cause the system to reboot or cause a service interuption. It is a metadata licensing flag only.
List all VMs and virtual machine scale sets with Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server in a subscription
To see and count all virtual machines and virtual machine scale sets deployed with Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server, you can run the following command from your subscription:
Portal
From the Virtual Machine or Virtual machine scale sets resource blade, you can view a list of all your VM(s) and licensing type by configuring the table column to include "OS licensing benefit". The VM setting can either be in Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows, Not enabled, or Windows client with multi-tenant hosting state.
PowerShell
For virtual machines:
Get-AzVM | ?{$_.LicenseType -like "Windows_Server"} | select ResourceGroupName, Name, LicenseType
For virtual machine scale sets:
Get-AzVmss | Select * -ExpandProperty VirtualMachineProfile | ? LicenseType -eq 'Windows_Server' | select ResourceGroupName, Name, LicenseType
CLI
For virtual machines:
az vm list --query "[?licenseType=='Windows_Server']" -o table
For virtual machine scale sets:
az vmss list --query "[?virtualMachineProfile.licenseType=='Windows_Server']" -o table
Deploy a Virtual Machine Scale Set with Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server
Within your virtual machine scale set Resource Manager templates, an additional parameter licenseType
must be specified within your VirtualMachineProfile property. You can do this during create or update for your scale set through ARM template, PowerShell, Azure CLI or REST.
The following example uses ARM template with a Windows Server 2016 Datacenter image:
"virtualMachineProfile": {
"storageProfile": {
"osDisk": {
"createOption": "FromImage"
},
"imageReference": {
"publisher": "MicrosoftWindowsServer",
"offer": "WindowsServer",
"sku": "2016-Datacenter",
"version": "latest"
}
},
"licenseType": "Windows_Server",
"osProfile": {
"computerNamePrefix": "[parameters('vmssName')]",
"adminUsername": "[parameters('adminUsername')]",
"adminPassword": "[parameters('adminPassword')]"
}
}
You can also learn more about how to Modify a virtual machine scale set for more ways to update your scale set.
Next steps
- Read more about How to save money with the Azure Hybrid Benefit
- Read more about Frequently asked questions for Azure Hybrid Benefit
- Learn more about Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server licensing detailed guidance
- Learn more about Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server and Azure Site Recovery make migrating applications to Azure even more cost-effective
- Learn more about Windows 10 on Azure with Multitenant Hosting Right
- Learn more about Using Resource Manager templates
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