I've got a new server equipped with 2 physical processors, each having 24 cores, making a total of 48 cores. I need to run 5 virtual machines on this setup. I'm looking for advice on which licensing model would be the most suitable for me while ensuring compliance with Microsoft's licensing policies.
2 Answers
You could try out a licensing calculator found online; it really helps clarify what you need!
Thanks for the tip!
Here’s the lowdown: for a server with 48 total cores and 5 VMs, you have a couple of options.
- **Windows Server Standard**: Each license covers up to 2 VMs and 16 cores, so you’d actually need 3 Standard licenses to handle your setup.
- **Windows Server Datacenter**: This option also requires core licensing (minimum of 16 cores), but you can run an unlimited number of VMs. It’s great for future expansion if that's a consideration.
So, if you’re sticking with 5 VMs, 3 Standard licenses should do. But if you want more flexibility down the line, consider a Datacenter license.
That calculator sounds handy, I'll give it a shot!