Windows Server 2022 Standard - more VMs with NO Key license possible? - Microsoft Q&A (2024)

2023-02-14T12:50:37.7466667+00:00

Hello,

we bought a new server (with 16 cores) including a Windows Server 2022 standard license.

We have installed ESXi for virtualization on the server.

There is a license sticker on the server with the Windows Server 2022 product key printed on it. With this license we can run 2 VMs. I have understood that. (One license allows 2 VMs).

We told the vendor that we need more licenses to run 6 Windows Server 2022 machines on the ESXi host.

Now he delivered two 16 core additional license which have no key.

Is this correct?

So we have 3x 16 core licenses now.. But only 1x with key - the other 2x 16 cores are without key....

Could we theoretically activate and run 6 VMs now with this single productkey which is on the sticker attached to the server? Or do we have to exchange the two 16 core no key licenses for two 16 core with key?

Thanks and kind regards

Sign in to comment

1. 

   Anonymous

   2023-02-14T14:10:07.1466667+00:00

   Now he delivered two 16 core additional license which have no key. Is this correct?

   No this is not correct. You have nothing without the product key.

   --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

   1. 

      BuZZy 20Reputation points

      2023-02-14T14:45:24.9166667+00:00

      So just to clarify that - we now have one license with ProductKey and two additional licenses without ProductKey..

      Vendor says the two additional licenses would "expand" the single license so we now have license for 48 cores (Hostsystem has 16 Cores) so we could use the single ProductKey for 6 VMs (48 Cores license / 16 Cores on the Host = 6 VMs)??

      Actually sounds pretty right to me? But as the Microsoft Licensing is pretty confusing sometimes i just want to make sure everything is licensed properly.. :D

      I found another post from you where you wrote

      • 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.

      And in my opinion that is what we have.. We have Standard Edition with Productkey allowing 2 VMs.. And we have 2 times additional licenses for all physical cores so that should allow another 4 VMs?? Or am i missing something??

   Sign in to comment

2. 

   Anonymous

   2023-02-14T14:50:33.1433333+00:00

   Make sure to hang on to the documentation for record keeping and for audit purpose. If you have a 16 core server and 48 core license so you're good to go (license-wise) with 6 virtual machines.

   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.

   --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

   1. 

      Anonymous

      2023-02-14T15:43:27.98+00:00

      Just checking if there's any progress or updates?

      --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

   2. 

      BuZZy 20Reputation points

      2023-02-14T15:47:23.9466667+00:00

      For each additional 1 or 2 VMs, all the physical cores in the server must be licensed again.

      in my eyes we have done that - we have the Standard license 16 Cores with the Productkey and expanded it with 2 additional 16 cores licenses with no keys - so the original 16 Core Standard key license now is valid for 48 Cores (6 VMs on a 16 Core Host)?? Can you confirm that or did i misunderstand something?

      So can we use the original single Productkey for all 6 VMs - or do i have to worry that its going to be blocked by the online activation system??

   Sign in to comment

Sign in to answer