Windows Server Licensing for 2 VMs

[Lopicl]

Hello, I already found some threads about this but I just need to be 100% sure.

Can I use a SINGLE Windows Server 2019 Standard license to install 2 Windows Server VMs on proxmox ve?
The server has got 12 physical cores (24 vCPUs) and I would divide the VMs into 6 each. (12 vCPUs)

Thanks to everyone in advance

 

[knippinski]

Hello, I already found some threads about this but I just need to be 100% sure.

Can I use a SINGLE Windows Server 2019 Standard license to install 2 Windows Server VMs on proxmox ve?
The server has got 12 physical cores (24 vCPUs) and I would divide the VMs into 6 each. (12 vCPUs)

Thanks to everyone in advance

No you can´t. You are only allowed to install 2 VM instances on a Windows Server 2019 Hyper V Host. If you are choosing Proxmox as your Hypervisor, you need one license for every Windows Server VM.

 

[ness1602]

Well , we use this license and have two VMs on Proxmox, because we consulted from someone locally. The licensing is really vague, but i think this is okay.

 

[Lopicl]

See thats what I wanted to say, everyone seems to have their opinion about this, everything is so confusing and vague (as always with microsoft related licensing).

Technically if I use the same 16-core license for two VMs with 8 cores or less wouldn't it be the same thing as using the rights for 2 OSEs?

 

[knippinski]

Well , we use this license and have two VMs on Proxmox, because we consulted from someone locally. The licensing is really vague, but i think this is okay.

it doesn´t matter if you purchase a license "locally" or online. And the Licensing from Microsoft is not "vague". Sure you can Install 20 Server VM´s and put the same Key in all of them. It will work. But from a Licensing Perspektiv it is wrong. You have to tinker with your self if you want to take the risk.

If you want to do this right:

Installing 2 VM with one Server 2019 Standard License ist only allowed when they are Hostet on a Hyper V Host with the same License. (And this Host is only allowed to have the Hyper V Role. Nothing else!)

In every other Scenario (Proxmox as your Hypervisor Host) you need one License Per VM.

Every VM has to be a Licensed for 16 Cores. If your VM has only 4 Cores it does not matter. You have to License 16 Cores.

And No you can not Split a 16 Core License over 2 VM (2*8=16). This is against the Term "Every VM has to be Licensed 16 core.

 

[ness1602]

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/an...y-to-license-windows-server-2019-virtual.html
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.
2 OS environents or Hyperv containers. So this should cover two VMs by this sentence.

 

[ness1602]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...9-v19.20.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0YFg-c1P-DNO9Ht9ihLOlJ

 

[knippinski]

In your example the Host Servers are always Hyper V Hosts. If you use Proxmox than you have to Provide 1 License for 1 Windows Server VM.

 

[Lopicl]

Ok then if I want to do things the right way I need two licenses... I think I will stick to Windows 10 guests then... I don't really need any of the windows server functionality, I just wanted no store and better updates management.

 

[knippinski]

If you have a subscription Plan for Each Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise License that you want to virtualize, than you can do this.

 

[Lopicl]

I can easily buy Windows 10 E3 subscriptions, not a problem for me.

 

[Lopicl]

Hello, im reviving this thread because i found helpful information at this link
This link was also given as a reply by a microsoft representative here

Although the link talks about server 2012 r2, its still valid as the licensing hasnt really changed at its core.

Specifically look at the "What the Chains Do Not Mean" section of the article.


The TLDR is:

You can install the 2 Windows Server 2019 Standard VMs under ANY hypervisor, as long as your license covers all the physical cores of your host.

Hope this can be a definitive answer for some people.

 

[richs]

If you have a subscription Plan for Each Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise License that you want to virtualize, than you can do this.

Knippinski
replying to you for some information on virtualizing live windows machines.

working with 2 multicore servers good amt of ram.
one with trueNass scale on the hardware and proxmox virtualized. seems to work ok.

as I would like to build a second node. virtualize OS on server A save to server be. plug in drive (hotswape) with proxmox installed.

suggestions are welcome

richs

 

[Falk R.]

Hello, I already found some threads about this but I just need to be 100% sure.

Can I use a SINGLE Windows Server 2019 Standard license to install 2 Windows Server VMs on proxmox ve?
The server has got 12 physical cores (24 vCPUs) and I would divide the VMs into 6 each. (12 vCPUs)

Thanks to everyone in advance

When you license all physical Cores, Minimum 16 Cores, you can run 2 virtual Machine on every Hypervisor. But the VMs must be always on the same Host in a Cluster.
All other are very old myths.