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Can I use Windows Server per-VM Licensing for Server 2022 standard vm's on a VMware Cluster?
Customer has a 6 node VxRail system
6x 2 Sockets with 16 Cores per Socket
System is now covered with a Server 2019 Datacenter lic for every node.
Customer wants to upgrade to Server 2022
For now only 16 Server 2019 VM's should be upgraded/replaced so buying 6 new 2022 Datacenter lics is a bit too much.
So looking for the most affordable way to license 16 Server 2022 VM's.
Can someone please give me advise?
Yes, you can use Windows Server per-VM Licensing for Server 2022 Standard VMs on a VMware Cluster. Here's how you can approach licensing the 16 Server 2022 VMs in the most cost-effective manner:
Since the customer currently has a Server 2019 Datacenter license for each node in the VxRail system, they can leverage these licenses through the "downgrade rights" provided by Microsoft. This means they can use their Server 2019 Datacenter licenses to run Server 2022 Standard VMs.
Here's a breakdown of the steps:
Check License Entitlements: Ensure that the existing Server 2019 Datacenter licenses provide downgrade rights to Server 2022 Standard. This information should be available in the license agreement or can be confirmed with Microsoft or the licensing provider.
Assign Licenses to VMs: Assign the Server 2019 Datacenter licenses to the 16 VMs that need to be upgraded/replaced with Server 2022. Since the customer has 6 nodes, they can distribute these licenses accordingly to cover the VMs across the cluster.
Deploy Server 2022 VMs: Once the licenses are assigned, deploy the Server 2022 Standard VMs on the VMware cluster. These VMs will be covered by the Server 2019 Datacenter licenses with downgrade rights.
Compliance and Reporting: Ensure that the customer maintains compliance with licensing terms and keeps accurate records of license assignments and VM deployments for auditing purposes.
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Hello
Licensing Windows Server 2022 on a VMware cluster can be a complex process due to the various factors involved. Here are some key points to consider:
All cores in the server must be licensed.
A minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.
Core licenses are sold in packs of two.
For each additional 1 or 2 VMs, all the physical cores in the server must be licensed again.
If you are licensing more than 12 virtual machines on a single host, there is a good chance a Datacenter license costs less as it provides unlimited virtual machines on a single host.
A Datacenter license provides for unlimited hosting but does not provide unlimited activations of the host product key.
In order to make use of unlimited hosting, you should install a Datacenter host and use Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA) activations.
The Standard edition license includes permission for two Operating System Environments or VMs.
Each host needs to be licensed for the max VMs that could be on it (even for one minute).
AVMA keys can be used only when the host is a Datacenter edition, so with any other hypervisor, you’ll activate guests using the purchased product key.
Given your scenario, if only 16 VMs are to be upgraded/replaced, you might consider purchasing individual Standard licenses for each VM. However, if you plan to add more VMs in the future, a Datacenter license could be more cost-effective in the long run due to its unlimited VM hosting capability.