Truth about Windows Server licensing with core packs
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 сер 2024
- Microsoft Windows Server licensing is not rocket science. There are a few rules that you need to remember, and as soon as you do, the calculations are easy... Until it comes to purchasing the licences and calculating compliance.
The problem lies with how the licences are sold. They are only available as 2-core packs and 16-core packs. And thus, some dodgy salespeople use that confusion to their advantage to push-sell you more licences than you need.
Are 16-core packs "breakable"? Can you assign half of the licences to one server and the rest to another? Let's look into that together.
Warning: dodgy salespeople may find this video offending their sensitive feelings.
ESSENTIAL READING
► Licensing Windows Server: samexpert.com/truth-about-win...
► Windows Server in SPLA: samexpert.com/microsoft-windo...
+++
LET'S CONNECT
► Follow Alexander Golev on LinkedIn: / golev
► Follow SAMexpert TV on LinkedIn: / samexpert
► Follow SAMexpert on Twitter: / samexpert
► Follow the Telegram channel: t.me/samexperttv
► Find and message us here: samexpert.com/
KEY MOMENTS
0:00 Windows Server 2019 core licensing rules
0:57 How core licences are sold in core packs
1:21 Misconceptions (and lies) about 16-core packs
1:59 The reason why people get confused with core packs
2:34 Enterprise Agreement price list positions compared
3:26 MPSA transactions compared and explained
4:12 The Windows Server licensing rule revisited
4:32 Microsoft License Statement summary example
5:11 So, how many 16-core packs are required for 2x 24-core servers?
5:41 What you need to always remember about licensing
6:23 What to do if you are being given the wrong advice
6:53 I am on a crusade to save you frustration and money
#Microsoft #ITProcurement #MicrosoftLicensing
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
Please watch: "SPLA Audit Readiness: Building a Fortress of Compliance"
• SPLA Audit Readiness: ...
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
Well done! I'm a complete beginner with Microsoft licensing and with IT overall, so this journey is very hard for me, but not impossible. Thank you for creating these videos that help people like me, who want to start from nothing, these videos really help me out! Keep on making this content and I will keep on watching! 😀😉
Thank you, and good luck in your journey!
Finally! Someone who is (at least!) as cynical as I am! Ok. I have a machine running a single processor (Intel Xeon 6 core E-2136). I want to run Server 2022 Standard edition (long story re spec...). Does the standard edition license cost cover me for this 6 core single CPU , or do I need to buy core licenses? I get the 'CAL' licensing, but the core bit, do they give you ANY cover at all??!! THANK YOU for the video, it's a great help! I'm subscribed!
Thanks, Jim. In your case, you need at least 16 core licenses for that server. Don't shoot the messenger. It's how they stipulated it. The cheapest will be to buy one 16-core pack.
Thanks Alex for these videos, such eye openers. I wanted your advise on WS2022 licensing. I'm planning on building a new VMware cluster with 4 hosts, each has 2 CPUs with 16 cores each. There would probably be 60 VMs running in this cluster. What's the best way to license these VMs with Windows Server 2022 Standard? If I understood this, I can do 8 x Windows Server 2022 DataCenter 16-Core (through CSP) to cover all cores and use the license key to activate all WS2022 Std VMs! or would it be cheaper to buy WS2022 Std for each VM? and how many to cover all 60 VMs? mind you, I would be using 2 vCPUs for each VM, some would have 1 vCPU and others would have 4 vCPUs. much appreciated!
Per VM, you would need subscription licenses. 480 single Standard licenses. You need to do a calculation yourself:)
With Intel's upcoming 288 core Xeons requiring 18 each 16 pack licenses, that cold get pretty expensive for a dual socket...!
Yes, that's certainly going to be a joy to license.
For my Dell Server, 2 CPUs, 6 Core each = 12 Total cores. 1 Admin managing 10 Users (laptop, desktop). Typical DNS, DHCP, and File Server setup.
How many Windows 2022 Licences do I need (I believe one 16 Core)?
Do I need CALs?
Do I need a separate License if I run One Hypervisor-VM on this host (Max 2 Hypervisor)?
I appreciate any help you can provide.
There’s a minimum of 16 cores per server.
Awsm 👍
IKR! Thx :)
Question, I'm setting up a 40 core server (2x 20 core) and looking to have WS2022 Datacentre Edition run on it. If I buy 3x WS2022DE basic licence keys (16 core keys), can I stack them up on the server in order to have all 40 cores licenced and have additional room for more cores in the future should I need them? And if I can, how do I stack them? Do I just insert all 3 product keys one at a time?
Hi Alessandro, have you actually watched the video? There is no such thing as a "base 16-core license". It's a myth populated by MS in Germany and some other countries. It's bullshit. A 16-core pack is a PACK of 16 single-core licenses.
You need 40 core licenses to license this server. If you prefer 16-core packs, you can buy two of them and then 4 2-core packs to top it up to 40.
That gives you unlimited VMs. No stacking needed.
And, you only need one product key. Windows Server does not track individual licenses.
What is confusing is that sometimes buying 2x24 corepacks costs more than 3x16 corepacks and that makes you think there is something wrong. But I still don‘t understand how you get keys for these breakable corepacks. Can you please explain?
Indeed 3x16 is often cheaper. I don’t understand the activation question though. Please explain.
@@SAMexpertTV I want to run 4 VMs instead of 2 on Server 2022 Standard. A licensing expert here in Germany explained to me that I get two keys if I want to stack up Server 2022 Standard, i.e. I activate 2 VMs with key 1 and 2 VMs with key 2. Does this make any sense? BTW, this will be a 2x12 core server (dual Xeon), so 48 cores need to be licensed for 4 VMs. I calculated that buying 3x16 cores is cheaper than 2x24, Googled and came to your video 😀
@@iAnguel It seems incredibly frustrating. How do you buy the licenses? One by one? Through which agreement?
Hi, i hv a test lab of 3 esxi servers with 2 sockets having 8 core per socket(16 cores on each server). Can you guide me which windows server 2022 standard license will be suitable for my setup. i m using vsphere 8 on my servers , 50 windows server standard 2022 vms in my environment . Vsphere is DRS enabled for live migratin om my vms.
You will need 48 single core licenses of Windows Server Datacenter. They are sold in packs of 2, 8, or 16.
HI i build server with 2x intel xeon 8175m, 2x ( Cores: 24 Threads: 48 ) so what type of windows server i will need to buy?
Please watch our full training on Windows Server licensing.
Explained perfectly
Thanks!
Great, you made it easy!
Glad it helps!
How is there only 616 views of this? I was quoted by Lenovo just last week 1 x Windows Server 2022 Standard (16-core) + 2 x Windows Server 2022 Standard Additional License (16 Core) to cover a server with 2 x 8 Core processors (16 physical cores, 32 virtual). Have I been duped?
How many virtual machines?
@@SAMexpertTVAh, that's probably it... 4 x Server 2022 VMs.
If the physical OS is only used as a hypervisor, and all the workloads are in the 4 virtual machines only, then you only need 32 single-core licences (there's no such thing a s a 16-core license, it's very confusing :) ) But if you run anything else in the physical OS then you need 48 cores as they quoted.
I am new to the role as server admin, could you tell me how to install additional core licenses on windows 2022 standard on top of basic 16 core license. Your support is much appreciated
I would like to clarify first of all that there is no such thing as a “basic 16 core license”. It’s invented by HPE and has absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft terms. Secondly, there is no need to install additional licenses. It is enough to have them. But pay attention that all the licenses assigned to the server must be the same version and edition.
@@SAMexpertTV Thanks for your valuable response. The CPU I use has 18 cores, in that case will a 16 core license sufficient to run windows server 2022 Standard ?
You need 18 core licences for an 18-core server.
one part I did not understand is: Would I get a single license key to activate 18 cores... or is it like two license keys; one with 16 core and the other with 2 core.. and I activate those two keys somewhere in the server during installation?
Thanks for bearing with my limited knowledge. your patience is much appreciated
@user-xb9cm4kb6z activation is a one-off. Use the key from the 16-core pack. No need to activate more licenses. But you need to have them legally.
Yeah okay so you need less cores than are sold in packs, but you cannot get them not in packs so end up paying for higher number cores in the pack - Microsoft can clearly make this model simpler but they choose not to cause that makes more revenue selling packs versus single cores.
You can buy them in 2-packs, why?
Great Video; Microsoft has developed a model to squeeze money from customers.
Sort of yes :)