I'm working in a small business with two HP servers running VMware ESXi, hosting 12 VMs that currently operate on outdated Windows Server 2016. Recently, I raised the issue of upgrading because we're planning to transition to Windows Server Datacenter 2025. The challenge I faced in a meeting was convincing the IT head, who believes we're fine with just running Windows 10 Pro on our existing setup.
He made several points:
- We likely won't need many new VMs.
- Our current infrastructure is stable, and we don't plan to make significant changes soon.
- The existing VMs have low maintenance requirements.
He's suggesting we could stick to a Windows Server 2025 Standard license to create two VMs for a domain controller and file server while just using Windows 10 or 11 for the operational VMs, claiming that this would be sufficient. I tried explaining the differences in update cycles, security, and management benefits of having Windows Server, but my arguments were brushed off.
I'm relatively new to this, and after some research, I found that using Windows 10 Pro might suffice, but I still have concerns. Can anyone point out the potential pitfalls of this approach or things we might be overlooking?
5 Answers
It's crucial to conduct a risk assessment before going with the lower-cost option. Make sure someone in management acknowledges the potential risks of running outdated software, especially if you're using versions that no longer get security updates—Windows 10 is on that list soon! You should also ask if cyber insurance covers these risks and how customers might react if services go down due to a security breach. It's essential to have clarity on the risks and costs involved.
The best argument here really depends on what those operational VMs are doing. If they’re running applications clients connect to, definitely revisit your licensing agreements, because using desktop versions in that role can be a violation. Also, it’s usually recommended to have at least two domain controllers for redundancy and stability.
One major issue is that Windows 11 doesn't support multiple concurrent RDP sessions, which can become a bottleneck. If you're using multiple users connecting to one VM, this will cause problems. You'll need to share a single account, which can lead to complications if something goes wrong and you can't figure out who caused it. It's definitely an area to consider if you plan to scale things up.
We actually already do that, using a shared user account. It’s not ideal, but it's been manageable so far.
Operating a Windows client in a VM requires specific licensing. Windows client versions are not meant to act as a main service provider, which can lead to licensing issues. On top of that, running multiple users on a desktop OS can lead to performance and security problems as you scale, which is something to think about with your current setup.
It sounds like the push to avoid upgrading stems from cost-saving measures rather than an understanding of long-term impacts. If your superiors are only focused on immediate savings, they might neglect future needs and growth. Just keep in mind they might not be as invested in infrastructure improvements, which might affect your role and resources in the long run.
Thanks for the tips! I appreciate the insight and will look into these aspects more closely.