Window Server Standard Hyper-V licensing

[FiszPL]

Hello,

I have question regard Windows Server (2022) Standard Hyper-V role licensing, because every person are have different word about it.

I know, that Hyper-V on Svr Standard is limited to 2VMs. But is it limited ONLY for Windows VMs? What about Linux VMs? Are they limited too?

[#2]

Some general info
- Each host needs to be licensed.
- A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor and a minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.
- Core licenses are sold in packs of two.
- Standard Edition provides rights for up to 2 Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed. For each additional 1 or 2 VMs, all the physical cores in the server must be licensed again.
- DataCenter Edition provides rights for unlimited Operating System Environments or Windows Servers containers with Hyper-V isolation when all physical cores in the server are licensed.
  

[#3]

@Dave PatrickOk... so even Microsoft Gold partners doesn't know how licensing in 2022 svr works.

Because one told that only 2 VMs max can be running in Hyper-V role (even linux ones), 2nd told that linux VMs doesn't count.

[#4]

Sounds good then. When in doubt just have your legal team interpret the EULA

[#5]

Sounds good what?
That 2 different Microsoft gold partners have different word about counting (or not) Linux VMs?
That's pathetic.

[#6]

2 different Microsoft gold partners have different word about counting (or not)Linux VMs?
That's pathetic. 

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As mentioned, when in doubt just have your legal team interpret the EULA if you don't feel comfortable.

Operating System Environment. An “operating system environment” is:

1. all or part of a physical or virtual (or otherwise emulated) operating system instance, that enables separate machine identity (primary computer name or similar unique identifier) or separate administrative rights, and instances of applications (if any), configured to run on the operating system instance or parts identified above.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/UseTerms/Retail/WindowsServer2019/DatacenterAndStandard/Useterms_Ret...

[#7]

Windows Server Standard, when properly licensed for the cores of the physical host upon which it is installed, includes virtualization rights for up to two Windows Server OSEs (operating system environments) running on the same host server. This includes full Hyper-V VMs or Windows Server Containers running in Hyper-V Isolation. Linux Server VMs do not count against this limit, and require only licensing from their respective vendor (if it is a commercial Linux distribution).

This is part of why Hyper-V Server (which is not being updated past Hyper-V Server 2019) was popular among shops that also ran Linux VMs. Hyper-V Server includes no Windows Server virtualization rights, but can run Linux VMs without additional licensing. Similarly, Azure Stack HCI does not include Windows Server virtualization rights, and any Windows Server OSEs must be licensed separately (through application of Windows Server licenses, or the in-preview Windows Server license subscription program).

In most cases, when running more than two Windows Server VMs on a host, it's advantageous to license Windows Server Datacenter instead of Standard as Datacenter includes rights for unlimited OSEs.

[#8]

Hi @Jim Gaynor 

If we run host using Windows Server 2016 Std and set hyperV 1 VM using Windows Server 2012 R2 Std, is this VM covered under host license?