Licensing Microsoft Server 2016 in a Virtual Environment: A Guide to Core Counting
As virtualization technology continues to evolve, licensing Microsoft Server 2016 in a virtual environment has become more complex than ever before. With the changes made to the license model beginning with Server 2016, it’s crucial to understand how to correctly license your servers to avoid any legal or financial repercussions. In this article, we will explore the new licensing model and how to count cores to ensure compliance.
The New Licensing Model
In the past, when licensing Microsoft Server, you had to choose between Datacenter and Standard (or Enterprise) editions based on the number of VMs you intended to run and the number of hosts available. However, with the changes made to Server 2016, there is almost no choice for virtual environments as the Standard edition is not attractive due to its limitations.
To license a Server 2016, you now have to count the number of physical cores in the host. This means that having two CPUs in a host each with 12 cores will cost you a 24-core license. This new licensing model eliminates the distinction between Datacenter and Standard editions based on the number of VMs or hosts, and instead focuses on counting cores.
Why the Standard Edition is Not Attractive
Before Server 2016, we could use the Standard edition for very small environments as it was a lot cheaper than the Datacenter edition and provided two VOSE (virtual operating system environments) with each license. However, this option is no longer available as all editions now count cores.
The Standard edition still provides two VOSEs, but you have to fully license all your hosts to get these two additional licenses. This means that you have to pay for each core on each host, which can quickly become expensive and inflexible. In contrast, the Datacenter edition provides unlimited VMs and does not have this limitation.
Counting Cores for Compliance
To ensure compliance, you need to count the number of physical cores in your hosts and procure the appropriate number of licenses. Our friend over at Hewlett Packard Enterprise has made this task easier with their Windows Server 2016 Core Licensing Calculator. This tool will tell you exactly how many licenses you need to procure to be in compliance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, licensing Microsoft Server 2016 in a virtual environment requires careful consideration of the new licensing model and core counting. The Standard edition is not attractive due to its limitations, and the Datacenter edition provides unlimited VMs without these limitations. To ensure compliance, use the Windows Server 2016 Core Licensing Calculator to determine how many licenses you need. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to licensing your Microsoft Server 2016 environment.