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AlexPawlak's avatar
AlexPawlak
Brass Contributor
May 19, 2020

WVD Windows Server licensing

Hello!

I have been looking into licensing bits of Windows Virtual Desktop solution that runs on Windows Server host pool. 
What is clear and without any doubt - every user needs RDS CAL with SA Rights (VL +SA / CSP subscription). Yet however when deploying host pool with Windows Server I notice the following: 



It has been automatically marked during deployment and I had no control over it. When inspected in ARM it corresponds to the following property: 

"licenseType": "Windows_Client"
When looking into Resource Meter usage, it seems to be applying AHB for Server (!): 


To my best knowledge, Service Tier: "bs series windows" corresponds to Windows Server License PAYG. This is a normal VM that I deployed outside of Host Pool with Server PAYG license applied
 

 
 

This in turn is standard Host-Pool Windows Server VM, which meters as if it had actual AHB benefit applied(!) 

Following questions now: 

1) Is Windows Server license free for Windows Server Host Pools? (I so wish this was the case 😉 )
2) If this turns out to be incorrect, all aware customers should set PAYG license model? 

Really hope for some clarifications
Thanks! 

 

  • MaranVerweij's avatar
    MaranVerweij
    Copper Contributor
    May 19, 2020

    AlexPawlak Correct, OS licensing costs do not apply to WVD session hosts. Most likely part of Microsoft's strategy to promote as-is RDS(H) migrations, when (re)building a Windows 10 Multi-session image is not appropriate. Although I would expect Windows_Server as license type, the end result should be the same (automated auding might one day deem it as strange though, I suppose). 

     

    "You need an Azure account and subscription to quickly deploy and manage your virtualization environment. These are the Azure components that factor into the price of a Windows Virtual Desktop deployment.

    • Virtual machines and operating system (OS) storage
    • Data disk (personal desktop only)
    • User profile storage
    • Networking"

    https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/virtual-desktop/

    • AlexPawlak's avatar
      AlexPawlak
      Brass Contributor
      May 19, 2020

      This is really nice, I wish it was stated somewhere specifically as it would save me a little headache and fear of being non-compliant and utilizing AHUB without having proper license in place

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