Windows Server R2 | Microsoft Evaluation Center

I have gone through several discussions and forums and understood that Microsoft server licenses are attached to the physical server processors and not the VM.

Still I want to clear and confirm my understanding. So, total we have 22 processors on 6 physical servers. We also have 11 Qty. Our Virtualization platform will be VMware. In one cluster, we will have these 6 servers and on that we will run around 50 Windows virtual machines. Because 4 Processors will require 2 Qty. So, it will check that physical servers has 4 processors and 2 quantities of license will be consumed.

So, When I will create subsequent virtual machines, Will have I have to activate every time for each new virtual machine? Did you read the aforementioned Microsoft licensing document that tries to address virtualization licensing questions? Licenses are legal documents. Think of your car license. There is no way to ‘install’ a car license on a car. But it is associated to the physical car. Now in that case, the car’s VIN is printed on the paper document that represents your car license.

In Microsoft’s case, they are relying on you to ‘assign’ the VIN the hardware serial number? It is an ‘honesty policy’. Microsoft assumes you will keep your records of which licenses have been assigned to which servers.

That is for your legal protection. In case you are ever chosen for a software audit, you would have written documentation to prove which physical machines have which licenses. MAK keys provide a finite number of activations – these are tracked. KMS keys provide a centralized place within your environment that ensures activation. In an installation like you are talking about, the most logical way to handle it is to license your physical hosts with volume licensed copies of the software.

Volume licensed software makes use of a special KMS key. Instances installed with volume license media automatically search for a KMS server and activate against that. This is a technical forum, not a legal forum. Your most reliable and trustworthy source of information is a trained Microsoft licensing specialist. You can call Microsoft and ask to talk with a licensing specialist and they will assist you in getting the answers you need.

Point number 3 – activation keys have no way of checking number of processors on the server. Activation does not ‘consume’ any licenses. Yes, each Windows Server operating system needs to be activated. Activation is completely separate from licensing. As technical forum, please explain how to license guest vm’s on a vmware host? Have you read the aforementioned licensing documents? Licenses are not ‘installed’ so much as ‘assigned’. Licenses are assigned to physical hosts, whether or not the physical host is running Windows.

Office Office Exchange Server. Not an IT pro? Resources for IT Professionals. Sign in. United States English. Ask a question. Quick access. Search related threads. Remove From My Forums. Answered by:. Archived Forums. Windows Server General. Sign in to vote. So with these details, my understanding is that – 1 When I will create virtual machine on a server with 4 processors and will activate this VM with provided 11 Qty. Saturday, February 4, AM. Again, this is a technical forum. You need to talk with a Microsoft licensing specialist.

Monday, February 13, PM. Proposed as answer by D. Saturday, February 4, PM. Thanks for your reply. I am not able to understand one point — We are never required to install the licensed physical operating system environment in order to take advantage of its guest virtualization rights.

I understood this point but I have below query. Up to here, I am correct. Later, when I will activate these VMs with their product keys then this will do the activation of these VMs. And you says that Licenses and Activation are separate things. You also says that a Windows Server license is always bound to a specific piece or group of hardware. How would hardware determine that I have 10 Qty. Because, when I will do the activation with product key on guest OS , activation keys have no way of checking number of processors on the server and activation will not consume any licenses.

So, I am confused that how these 10 Qty. Kindly help and clarify this doubt. Thank you. Friday, May 26, AM. Monday, May 29, PM.

Try Windows Server R2 on Microsoft Evaluation Center.[SOLVED] Windows Server Licensing on VMWare

 
Verify your account to enable IT peers to see that you are a professional. You would use the same Datacenter key for all the guests on one host regardless of hypervisor.