Examples: Windows Server Licensing

Windows Server Example A: Forcing Entitlement Type Through Purchasing Assignments

In this example, the machine configuration includes the following:

• 16 cores, 2 processors
• Bare metal VMware server
• 16 virtual machines, where 8 machines are running Windows Server 2016 Standard, and the other 8 are running Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

In Purchasing, you've done the following:

• Configured a Select Plus Agreement with Software Assurance (maintenance)
• Added a purchase of 8 Windows Server 2016 Datacenter licenses, assigned to machine

Results in License Analytics

Compliant: Forcing entitlement to Windows Server 2016 Datacenter by explicit assignment in Purchasing results in compliance for the earlier versions of the product. Windows Server 2016 licenses are sold per core, in packs of 2, with a minimum of 8 licenses (16 cores) for a single machine. Windows 2016 Datacenter licenses allow an unlimited number of virtual machine guests.

Windows Server Example B: Upgrading to Windows Server 2016

In this example, the machine configuration includes:

• 4 processors
• 8 cores
• Bare metal Hyper-V server
• 2 virtual guests

In Purchasing, you previously did the following:

• Configured a Microsoft Select Plus Agreement with Software Assurance
• Added a purchase of 2 Windows Server 2012 Standard licenses

Results in License Analytics:

Compliant, up to the point where you upgraded to Windows Server 2016 Standard. At that time, core-based licensing is required, which requires a minimum of 8 licenses for 16 cores. You'll need to purchase additional licenses from Microsoft, and migrate the contract that covers this line item to use core-based licensing to maintain compliance. No additional licenses for your virtual guests are required, as the Standard edition allows 2 virtual guests.

Windows Server Example C: Downgrading from Windows Server 2016

In this example, the machine configuration includes:

• 1 processor
• 8 cores
• Bare metal Hyper-V server
• 2 virtual guests

In Purchasing, you previously did the following:

• Configured a Microsoft Select Plus Agreement without Software Assurance
• Added a purchase of 8 Windows Server 2016 Standard licenses, assigned to machine
• Assigned those 8 core-based licenses to a machine running Windows Server 2012 Standard

Results in License Analytics:

Compliant, as your licensing agreement allows the downgrade and assigning those 8 core-based licenses from the Windows Server 2016 Standard purchase to Windows Server 2012 Standard allows License Analytics to understand the correspondence between the processor-based installation (Windows Server 2012 Standard) and the core entitlements (Windows Server 2016 Standard).

Windows Server Example D: Not All Server Titles Are Covered by Datacenter License

In this example, the machine configuration includes:

• 4 processors
• Bare metal Hyper-V server
• 8 virtual guests:
  • 5 running Windows 2012 R2 Standard
  • 2 running Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
  • 1 running Windows Web Server 2008

In Purchasing, you've done the following:

• Configured a Select Plus Agreement
• Added a purchase of 2 Windows 2012 R2 Datacenter licenses, assigned to machine

Results in License Analytics:

Not compliant: Windows Web Server 2008 requires a separate license; it is not covered under the Datacenter licenses.

Windows Server Example E: Licenses Upgraded by Enterprise Agreement

In this example, the machine configuration includes:

• 2 processors
• Machine running Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
• 4 virtual machines, all of them running Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

In Purchasing, you've done the following:

• Configured a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement
• Added a purchase of 2 licenses of Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, assigned to machine

Results in License Analytics:

Compliant: Under the Enterprise Agreement, the Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard licenses are upgraded to the entitlement type of Windows 2012 R2 Standard and, therefore, compliant.

For more information on analyzing your data, select a product in the left pane of License Analytics, and then select the Worksheet tab or Computer Data tab. From here, you can view information on your purchases, licenses, entitlements, and contracts. Also see the How Do I...? topics for procedures you can follow to learn more about your current licensing status.