Forum Discussion

narayandas4one's avatar
narayandas4one
Copper Contributor
Dec 17, 2025

Dear Simone_Termine​ 

Thank you for your detailed response. Your explanation helped clarify several concepts; however, a few points remain uncertain, and I would appreciate further guidance:

  1. Server ML vs. System Center Standard License
    • Is Server ML different from the System Center Standard License:
      • How many System Center Licenses are required to deploy four Management Servers on VMs (two VMs per host)?
      • Additionally, how many Server ML (Managed VMs) would be required to cover 120 Managed Virtual Machines (each with 8 cores)?
    • If Server ML is not different:
      • Does this mean I only need to purchase 2 Management Licenses (covering four VMs) plus 60 additional Standard licenses again to cover 120 Virtual Machines?
      • In this case, are the 60 additional licenses provided as paper licenses, license keys, or in another format?
  2. Nature of Server ML
    • Could you confirm whether Server ML is considered a paper license or something else?
  3. Simplified Calculation Request
    • In straightforward terms, could you please calculate the required number of:
      • System Center Licenses (Management Licenses) for deploying four servers as System Center components (MECM, SCVMM, DPM, etc.), with each host dedicated to two components.
      • Server ML licenses required to manage 120 Virtual Machines.

Your clarification on these points will help us finalize our licensing requirements with. About CML and SA I am clear now.

 

Regards

Narayan Das

mertefekanlikilic's avatar
mertefekanlikilic
MCT
Dec 20, 2025

Hi narayandas4one​ 

To keep it simple, below is a straightforward example calculation that should address your question at a practical level.

Assumptions

  • System Center 2022 Standard
  • All VMs have 8 cores
  • Core-based licensing (1 license per 2 cores)

System Center Components (4 Management Server VMs)

  • 4 VMs × 8 cores
  • 8 ÷ 2 = 4 licenses per VM

Required licenses:
4 × 4 = 16 System Center Standard

Managed Workloads (120 Virtual Machines)

  • 120 VMs × 8 cores
  • 8 ÷ 2 = 4 licenses per VM

Required licenses:
120 × 4 = 480 System Center Standard (Server ML)

Summary

Management Servers: 16 Standard
120 Managed VMs: 480 Standard
Total: 496 System Center Standard licenses

Note: “Server ML” is not a separate product; it refers to the System Center Standard license.

This calculation follows Microsoft’s published licensing rules; for final confirmation in your specific agreement, it’s still best to check with a Microsoft licensing partner.

  • narayandas4one's avatar
    narayandas4one
    Copper Contributor
    Dec 20, 2025

    Thank you for your response. However, I must respectfully disagree with your assumptions outlined below:

    Assumptions Provided (Taken from your above comment)

    • System Center 2022 Standard
    • All VMs have 8 cores
    • Core-based licensing (1 license per 2 cores), not clear this point? how?

    What we understood from Microsoft Official Documentation is

    • Minimum 8 cores per CPU
    • Minimum 16 cores per server
    • Core-based licesing (2 16-pack core license covers four VMs), right?

    My primary concern remains around Server ML. For example, if I purchase two System Center Standard licenses to deploy four management servers and intend to manage 120 VMs, what exactly must be procured for those 120 VMs? Is Server ML a paper license similar to Client ML (CML), or does it involve a product key or another entitlement? This distinction is unclear, and even our vendor has not been able to provide a definitive answer.

    Environment Summary

    1. Four Management Servers (planned purchase: 2 System Center Standard Licenses)
    2. 1000 Client MLs (paper licenses) for Windows 11
    3. 120 VMs requiring Server MLs, as per Microsoft guidance

    Based on my current understanding, the requirement would be:

    • 1000 CMLs for windows client machines
    • 2 Standard Licenses for the four management servers
    • 60 Server MLs (as mentioned per server requires 2 License, we have 120 VMs, means 120/2=60)

    However, the nature of the Server ML—whether it is a paper license, product key, or another form of entitlement—remains unclear to me. Where can I find the pricing of Server ML? 

    In simple words, I need below,

    1- Pricing for 2 System Center License

    2- Pricing for 1000 CMLs

    3- Pricing of 60 Server MLs

    4 - Pricing of Software Assurance 

    Pricing should be for three years.

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