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General availability: Windows Server guest subscription offer, only on Azure Stack HCI

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scooley
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May 13, 2022

To facilitate Windows Server guest licensing for Azure Stack HCI customers, take advantage of a new offer that brings simplicity and increased flexibility.

With this offer, you can purchase unlimited Windows Server guest licenses for your Azure Stack HCI cluster through your Azure subscription. Through an all-in-one place Azure subscription, guest licensing has never been easier:

  • Purchase and manage billing all in one place through your Azure subscription and Azure Portal
  • Activation is handled automatically – no more keys and audit true-ups
  • Always up-to-date – access to all Windows Server versions up to the latest, including Windows Server Azure Editions
  • Flexible licensing – no minimum cores required, sign up and cancel anytime
  • No additional user CALs required – included in subscription

 

The new Windows Server subscription for Azure Stack HCI is generally available as of April 1, 2022. There is a free trial within the first 60 days of registering your Azure Stack HCI, after which the offer will be charged at $23.30 per physical core per month. 

Learn more about Windows Server subscription

 

Additionally, you can now also get free Extended Security Updates (ESUs) on Azure Stack HCI, by enabling the free Azure Benefits feature!

Learn more about getting free ESUs on Azure Stack HCI

Updated May 13, 2022
Version 3.0

4 Comments

  • So far I miss to see any publishing for Windows Server Azure Edition and this subscription. Is this expected or do I miss overlook something?
    https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/terms/product/changes/all

  • Good question gabrielluizbh . I know licensing is mostly not sophisticately discussed due the complexity, adding to Gabriel, would the customer also need to buy RDS CAL via subscription?

     

    Next how do we activate Windows Server for Azure (own update category same as hotpatch). Can we use AVMA and / or also for this license. Asking because there are mostly no KMS keys offered for any licenses in New Commerce Experience, which makes good activation deployment methods inaccessible.

  • I didn't understand.

    Example:

    As certified hardware for Azure Stack HCI, 24 cores. Two servers, Total of 48 cores.

    I want to run 20 VM with Windows Server 2022.

    I will only pay $1,118.40 per month per month.

    Do I need to purchase anything else, cal and Windows Server licensing?
    Is it already all included in the price of 23.30 per core?