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atnixon69's avatar
atnixon69
Copper Contributor
Nov 04, 2019

Server 2012 / 2019 licencing

Hi Folks,   I have a customer running Server 2012 (not r2) as a HyperV with 2 vm's. We are looking to replace this with a new server running 2019 standard. So, the original server was supplied wit...
Hyper-V
windows server
atnixon69's avatar
atnixon69
Copper Contributor
Nov 04, 2019

Dave PatrickNot quite sure you've understood my question here. I'm fully aware of how Server 2019 is licenced. What i'm after finding out is (i'll word it differently) if I export a VM out of a Server 2012 licenced HyperV physical server, import it into a 2019 HyperV physical server, is the Server 2012 licence still legal / valid?

 

Cheers

Dave Patrick's avatar
Dave Patrick
MVP
Nov 04, 2019

No they would not since only the host is licensed. A Standard Server 2019 product key can only be used to activate a Standard Server 2019 instance.

 

 

  • atnixon69's avatar
    atnixon69
    Copper Contributor
    Nov 04, 2019

    Dave PatrickOk, that makes sense...Which leads me on too...What If I purchased a Server 2019 Open Licence, rather than the Reseller Option Kit with hardware, that should then provide me with downgrade rights and then the Server 2012's could be licenced via downgrade rights?

    • Dave Patrick's avatar
      Dave Patrick
      MVP
      Nov 04, 2019

      Probably yes, (assumes you'll install 2012 on host) in that case you might want to investigate the possibility of transferring the host license from old server to new server. As far as I know when you downgrade a product then the original product (and key) is no longer valid to use. In both cases better to discuss these legal licensing issues with your reseller's trained licensing specialist or ask microsoft volume center directly.