Microsoft license

[Faridr]

Hey Guys,

I have a answer with Microsoft license, and i need the help,

I have a vSphere Cluster with 3 nodes, each node have 1 CPU/20 cores.

On the cluster i have 12 Windows srv 2019 standart VM, i need to know how i can calclute the license for all the VMs?

Do I need to buy 12 Win Svr Std 2019 x64 Eng 16 Core licenses for this?

Thank You,

Farid

[a_p_]

Current Windows Server versions are licensed by physical cores (in your hardware), with a minimum of 16 cores per server.

Keeping that in mind, it now depends on your setup what licenses you may need.
With vMotion/DRS in place you may need to get Windows Server Datacenter licenses (20 Cores per host). This will allow you to deploy as many Windows Server instances as you need/want.

If you do not migrate the Windows Server VMs, you have the option to use Windows Server Standard licenses. Each license allows you to deploy 2 instances on the server for which you've purchased the license. So if you run e.g. 4 Windows Server VMs per host, you will need to get 6 Windows Server Standard licenses (20 Cores each, because the host's core count).

André

 

[frahimzade]

Dear André,

Thank You for your reply, 

Currently, since HA is active among my hosts, vmotion and drs services are also active, I need to get the license process as standard in terms of cost. in this case i think i need to buy 16 core license for the whole vm

[IRIX201110141]

Some minor additional notes: Speaking of MS Core licensing its

1. minimum 8 core per populated socket
2. minimum 16 cores per host
3. You have to license all phys. cores within the host when they are above the minimum. If its less  you have to license the minimum

A Windows Server Standard OEM/ROK license is assigned during the installation when you enter the key. After that youre NOT ALLOWED to move this OSI(Operating System Instance) away from that pyhs. Server. Which means NO vMotion, HA, DRS, FT.

A Windows Server Standard Volume license give the reassignment right every 90 days. So every 90 days you are allowed to perform a vMotion, DRS, HA.

Solution(s):
- Buy multiple Windows Server Standard licenses for all 3 of your hosts
- Buy Windows DataCenter (ROK,OEM,VL) for every of your 3 Hosts. Normally the financial break even is the need for >= 10 VMs(5 licenses).

Additional notes:
- Software Assurance for the OS doesnt give you movement rights(thats only true for the MS Appliactions)
- The same applied if you use Hyper-V or any other Hypervisor. So no reason to blame VMware or Microsoft

[frahimzade]

As far as I understand, if I get a datacenter license, it will be as follows:

Windows Server® Datacenter (16 core)  1
Additional Cores To Be Licensed 56
Additional Licenses Required for Compliance
Windows Server® Datacenter Additional License (16 core) 3
Windows Server® Datacenter Additional License (4 core) 2

Is that form correct?

[IRIX201110141]

56?

Host #1

• 1x Windows Server DataCenter 16 Core
• 2x Windows Server DataCenter add. 2 cores

which cover the 20 pCores within our host.

Now do exactly the same for Host #2 and #3 assuming the have also 20 pCores each.

Note:
This is no price difference between the base license and the additional core. Yes there are larger base/add. Core bundles available but because of there is no price benefit the add. 2 core bundle is widely used.

A Windows ROK should be the cheapest followed by the OEM and than CSP and OpenValue.  The CSP/OV are volume licenses and OV always comes with SA.

Regards,
Joerg

[frahimzade]

So what happens when the number of cores is 24 for each server?

[IRIX201110141]

Than you bought

1. 1x Windows Server 16 Core
2. 4x Windows Server add. 2 Core

16 + 8 = 24.

Hint: Just the phys. Cores... no HT.

Regards,
Joerg

[frahimzade]

Dear Joerg,

Thank you for your support. The information you provided helped me a lot.