Microsoft | Windows Server and System Center Core Licensing Update

Sep 28, 2016

Windows Server 2016 & System Center 2016 will be available in SPLA in October.

Licensing Summary:

• Per core license model replaces processor license model on October SPUR.
• Each physical processor needs a minimum of 8 core licenses.
• Both Windows Server Standard & Datacenter Editions provide support for unlimited Windows Server containers.
• Windows Server Standard Edition requires all physical cores to be licensed in order to run 1 Windows Hyper-V container (or Virtual Machine).
• Windows Server Datacenter Edition requires all physical cores to be licensed in order to run unlimited Windows Hyper-V containers (or Virtual Machines).

New Licensing SKU’s:

Licensing Scenarios:

• Scenario 1: A physical server with 2 Physical Processors and 4 Cores would require in the new licensing method:

In case of Windows Server Standard:

In case of Windows Server Datacenter:

• Scenario 2: A physical server with 2 Physical Processors, 4 Cores and 2 Virtual Machines would require in the new licensing method:

In case of Windows Server Standard:

In case of Windows Server Datacenter:

• Scenario 3: A physical server with 2 Physical Processors and 16 Cores would require in the new licensing method:

In case of Windows Server Standard:

In case of Windows Server Datacenter:

*The total licenses needed is divided by 2 since each reporting SKU covers 2 core licenses

Partners whose Microsoft SPLA Agreement is not yet expired, can still report the Windows Server Per Processor License until the expiry date of their Agreement.