Can I License Windows 11 VMs with Microsoft 365 E3?
Asked by
TechWhiz89
I'm working as a software developer in a larger organization that currently operates a fully Linux-based test environment on vCentre. We're now looking to test some Windows tools, so we need to set up 2-3 Windows 11 virtual machines. We want to ensure we're compliant with licensing since this will likely be a long-term setup rather than just temporary evaluation installs. Everyone on the team has Windows PCs linked to Microsoft 365 E3 licenses.
I found an article that states that users with Microsoft 365 E3 licenses can virtualize Windows 10 or 11 on their own servers, regardless of whether their primary device uses a qualifying OS. This leads me to wonder: are we allowed to run these Windows VMs covered under our E3 licenses? If so, how do we go about activating them? Do we need specific license keys?
Answers
From my past experience with running desktop OSes on vCentre, we had to get Windows VDA licenses, which are subscription-based (one per user). I just learned about the new policy from your article. I used to think you needed a licensed Windows 10 or 11 Pro on your main device.
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CodeMaster99: You're correct that you usually need a Qualifying Operating System for personal devices. But the new update seems to allow licensing for VMs directly under your E3/E5 licenses. How did you install the OS on vSphere? Isn’t there a need for license keys there?