Windows Server 2019 Datacenter License - Product Activation

~OSD~ 2,176 Reputation points
2020-09-23T08:03:04.673+00:00

Hi all,

Have Physical Server with 2 Processors. Each processor has 8 cores. This means I have 16 cores in total (physical). However, there is feature on server to activate virtual cores, when doing this, I get 32 cores.
Physical Cores = 16
Physical + virtual Cores = 32

Now if we consider the Windows Server activation for Windows Server 2019 Datacenter, I have valid product key for the DC which I used to activate the server. Should I need to consider take other actions to activate Processor cores in addition to Operating System activation? If yes, please advise how?

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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Windows Server Setup
Windows Server Setup
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Setup: The procedures involved in preparing a software program or application to operate within a computer or mobile device.
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  1. Jenny Feng 14,131 Reputation points
    2020-09-23T08:54:01.037+00:00

    Hi,

    You don't need to activate processor cores, just use the product key to activate the server that you can have the operating system activated.

    Hope above information can help you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-09-23T08:27:50.343+00:00

    Only the physical cores should count. 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.
    • AVMA keys can be used only when the host is DataCenter edition

    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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  2. ~OSD~ 2,176 Reputation points
    2020-09-23T08:36:55+00:00

    Hi and thanks for reply.

    Could you please elaborate the "Core License"? is it different from the Server License?
    I have following options under keys:

    26588-image.png

    And following keys: I can't see something specific about the core license.

    26677-image.png

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-09-23T08:40:41.43+00:00

    No, the licensing is the same for core installation.

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

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  4. ~OSD~ 2,176 Reputation points
    2020-09-23T08:59:09.857+00:00

    Some confusion left anyhow.

    As per my screenshot, I have Windows Server 2019 Datacenter - Retail KEYs.

    I am using this to activate the Server, once server is activated, all done? If yes, then why to get linked with number of physical cores and core licenses?

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