Run Virtual Win Server 2008 Enterprise on ESXI 4

[VinnyP]

Hi all,

I have MS Windows 2008 Enterprise Server which allows up to 4 Windows servers to run as VMs using the same VM licence key. Can I run the 4 Windows server VM's on ESXi 4 platform using the same VM licence key? I am just thinking that if MS allows the 4 VM's to run on their Hyper V Server 2008 then I may be able to run the 4 VM's on ESXi, using the one VM licence key.

Thanks in advance.

VinnyP

[khughes]

Yes you can the host OS is interchangeable. The only issue is if you utilize vMotion as those licenses are only good on that one host. You can migrate them once every 90 days but that is the extent of it. If you're running a single ESXi host, then yes you can install up to 4 MS 2008 Server VM's without issues.

See - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/licensing-faq.aspx#virt

-- Kyle

"RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "

[Jackobli]

If you're running a single ESXi host, then yes you can install up to 4 MS 2008 Server VM's without issues.

See - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/licensing-faq.aspx#virt

I'd really like to question our license specialist.

Last year, they told us, that this is a no no

And if you read that faq, you could come to different conclusions.

You are eligible to run virtual machines on the Server running Microsoft Server 2008!

Means, you could run your guests on VMware Server 2, but not on ESX(i).

[khughes · Accepted solution]

I think its constantly changing especially with Hyper-V out now. I would think there would be some discrepancy between licensing people but I go off the last Q/A on the virtual FAQ which is -

Q. Do the virtualization licensing rights of Windows Server 2008 apply when used with non-Microsoft software virtualization technologies?

A. Yes. The use rights apply regardless of the virtualization product being used. However, any non-Microsoft software virtualization technologies are not supported by Microsoft. For more information about support policies, please refer to the following Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles:

I take that to mean the licensing concepts apply to if you're running Hyper-V, ESX, Virtual PC or Workstation/VM Server

Who knows with Microsoft though, their reasoning is completely stupid and obviously fiscal based without thinking anything through.

-- Kyle

"RParker wrote: I guess I was wrong, everything CAN be virtualized "