Tag Archives: Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 Pricing and Licensing FAQ

There’s a December 2015 Pricing and Licensing FAQ for Windows Server and System Center which gives some more detail on the upcoming 2016 versions of these products. Here are the new and interesting things revealed:

Windows Server

  • Windows Server 2016 is licensed by physical cores, therefore using hyper-threading does not change the Core licences required
  • If processors are disabled for use by Windows then the cores on that processor do not need to be licensed
  • Windows Server 2016 supports nested virtualisation – a VM running inside a VM – which counts as two virtual machines from a licensing perspective
  • There will be an External Connector licence for Windows Server 2016
  • Nano Server is a deployment option within Windows Server 2016 and requires no further licences

 

Azure hybrid-use benefit

  • Anticipated to be available in the first quarter of 2016
  • Customers with Windows Server with SA can use Windows Server images in non-Windows VMs in Azure
  • Each Windows Server 2012 R2 Processor licence allows customers to run 2 instances on up to 8 cores each, or 1 instance on up to 16 cores
  • When the benefit is used with a Standard edition licence, that licence may no longer be assigned to another server, but Datacenter licences can continue to be used for unlimited virtualisation in an on-premises deployment

 

System Center

  • System Center 2016 will also move to the Core licensing model
  • The Core Infrastructure Server Suite will also be licensed with Core licences

 

Find this jolly useful FAQ here: http://bit.ly/MSlicensingguides – look in the Core Infrastructure section.

Windows Server 2016 Licensing Datasheet

The licensing model for Windows Server will change to Core + CAL when the 2016 version launches in the second half of 2016, and there’s a new licensing datasheet which details the changes.

Here are the key points:

  • All physical cores in the server must be licensed
  • A minimum of 8 Core licences are required for each physical processor in the server
  • A minimum of 16 Core licences are required for servers with one processor
    Core licences will be sold in packs of two
  • SA customers will exchange Processor licences for Core licences at SA renewal
  • Processor licences will be exchanged for 16 Core licences or the actual number of physical cores in use
  • EA and SCE customers may continue to purchase Processor licences through the term of their agreement

Some things will stay the same:

  • Users or devices are licensed with CALs which may access multiple Windows Servers
  • Additional CALs are required for Remote Desktop Services or AD Rights Management Services
  • Standard edition provides rights for up to 2 OSEs and Datacenter edition licenses an unlimited number

Find the licensing datasheet in the Core Infrastructure section here: http://bit.ly/MSlicensingguides to read the detail and to see a useful table which compares pricing as the licensing model changes between Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2016.