Windows Server licensing

[f4242]

Hello,

No Windows server at this time, but I may have to have one for syncing our AD (samba) with Azure AD for use with Office 365. Dealer told me Microsoft licensing doesn't allow Windows Server to be installed on VM and I have to install bare metal. Once Server is installed I'm allowed to install 2 VM with Hyper-V on the same host.

Is it true? How are you able to run Windows Server on your Proxmox VE cluster?

Thanks

 

[RokaKen]

I am not a lawyer and I cannot advise you on Microsoft licensing. Technically, Windows 20nn Server runs just fine on Proxmox. See Windows 2019 Guest Best Practices

 

[SimenOvrebo]

No problem using the Windows Server license for VMs. You just have to make sure you license all physical cores in the server the VMs will run on. Minimum licensing is for 16 cores.

Some info from Microsoft:

Minimum license requirements

• All physical cores must be licensed
• 8 core licenses per processor
• 16 core licenses per server

Windows Server Standard Edition license includes permission for two OSEs or VMs.

Source for permissions: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/pricing

 

[f4242]

I confirmed with Microsoft with their live chat that this is allowed. They even said I only have to licence virtual core assigned to the VM.

Thanks!

 

[lifeboy]

It's been a couple of years, but the issue is still the same. I'd like some clarification on this please.

If I have 4 nodes on a pmx cluster with 2 x 10 core cpu's in each and I want to license for example a Windows Server 2022, then would I have to:

• Pay MS for a license for 16 cores for each node, being 4 x 16 cores?
• I could then install 2 VM's with Windows Server on each node without paying extra
• If I wanted more VM's I would need to pay for additional server licenses?

It's all quite blurry to me.

What I wanted only one Windows VM, let's say for 4 cores, but I wanted to to make it HA. Would I need to license a 16 core server license only once (and the license travels with the server if it moves to a different node)?

Those of you who have done this, or are doing it, please assist me here. It would be sincerely appreciated.