Windows Server Virtual Machine Licensing Overview

When you purchase a license of Windows Server 2008, and are planning to run virtual servers in your environment you may want to consider your options before purchasing the edition you need.

Windows Server Foundation is your typical "starter" server. It provides limited functionality, and is only available as a pre-built system. So in essence, the nature of the license of the self itself doesn't provide for much 'mobility' in the first place. Upon further investigation, it looks as though the Hyper-V virutalization technologies for Windows Server 2008 Foundation are non-existant. http://on-msn.com/8Mlxom

In terms of pure system requirements, Windows Server Standard could very well suit your needs. But in terms of the license agreement, you are not allowed to host anymore than one virtual machine of standard at any one time. This is even if the host computer is running off another operating system.

"Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard offers...Hyper-V-based virtualization and one free virtual instance." http://on-msn.com/1P73nx

Windows Server Enterprise however, does grant you the rights to run 4 virtual machines per physical license you have of the OS.

"Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise licenses include the use right to run up to four additional virtual instances of Windows Server with one server that is licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise." http://on-msn.com/b5bgET

With Windows Server Datacenter, the operating system is licensed out per processor. this is largely due to the fact that this type of application is used on computers with a bit of horse power behind them. It is a minimum purchase of 2 Datacenter licenses in the first place. However, after that initial purchase, you would have the right to run an unlimited amount of virutal machines on that physical host, without having to purchase more server licenses.

"Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter licenses include unlimited virtualization rights, meaning customers have the use rights to run an unlimited number of virtualized instances of Windows Server on processors licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter without purchasing additional licenses." http://on-msn.com/ce2C6c


Now, this license agreement doesn't stop you from purchasing more Standard or Enterprise licenses to suit your needs; because the price of Datacenter is quite jaw dropping. http://bit.ly/fy5uCq

So from this video and aritcle, you should be able to leverage your purchases appropriately to get the most infrastructure for the least amount of licensing costs.

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