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Windows server license question on VM server

Hi expert

I have to setup new Windows server, but I have a big problem on calculating Windows server license. Vendor cannot help me

Existing situation:

2 Physical VM servers (each 10 Core x 2 CPU = 20 Core)
We installed 4 Windows server on one VM, and another VM just for replication

Now

We would like to install 3 new Windows server on the VM.

How many Core license we should purchase?

Also, in old day, we have some Windows 2012 license on Physical server. Can we simply use the license on the new VM Windows?

Thanks

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

You need to license ALL Cores

How many VMs total ?

Is it 8?

Michael C

ASKER

7 Windows on two Physical VM servers

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

So you have TWO HOSTS with Dual Processors and 10 Cores ?

Total of 20 cores need to be licensed per host, and that then entitles you to run 2 virtual machines.

(that is the MINIMUM!)

So for EACH HOST.... you need to purchase

20 Cores x 2 for Windows Standard.

and then you can run two VMs on Each Host.

So how many additional VMs.....5 ?

and are these standalone Hosts or in a Cluster ?

Michael C

ASKER

Two hosts with dual processors (each processor is 10 cores)

i.e. 40 Cores for two hosts

Michael C

ASKER

Yes, additional 5

It is standalone

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

20 Cores x 2 for Windows Standard is the minimum 40 Cores, which will include 2 VMs per Host.

So on the assumption these are standalone, and you load as

Host 1 - Dual Processors - 10 Cores - Total 20 Cores including 2 VMs

- 20 Cores need to be licensed for standard and purchased.

Host 2 - Dual Processors - 10 Cores - Total 20 Cores including 2 VMs

- 20 Cores need to be licensed for standard and purchased.

You then need to work out how you spread the additional 5 VMs across two hosts.

if you were to balance, you would have

Host 1 - 5 VMs
Host 2 - 4 VMs

Is that correct ?

Michael C

ASKER

all vm are on host 1,

and host 2 is only used for replication and activate it for disaster situation

Michael C

ASKER

total 7 VMs on host 1, and no VM on host 2

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

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Michael C

ASKER

so each additional vm is 12 core, right?

what do u means “8VM ... are in 2s”?

Michael C

ASKER

the 2nd host assumed to power up if host 1 is down

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

Each bundle of licenses entitle to 2 VMs.

So as you are an on number, you have to purchase in multiples of 2s.

the 2nd host assumed to power up if host 1 is down

I'm afraid I don't make up Microsoft rules, what you need to understand and think of is those licenses are "almost" fixed to Host 1.

Powering up Host 2 for DR, those licenses are not transferrable.

For full clarification Microsoft Licensing have the official say in this matter, and this is my understanding.

Seth Simmons

Vendor cannot help me

then find another vendor
they should have a contact at microsoft to get you the correct answer
you give them the number of cores between the 2 hosts, how many guests you need and they should tell you how many core licenses are required