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JeffCormanes
Contributor
Contributor
‎06-16-2020 11:59 PM

Licensing VSAN Nodes with MS Server VMS

Hi Experts,

Please help clarify how to license  Mircosoft Server Standard License on VSAN nodes

Equipment
3 VSAN nodes
Each node has 1processor 16 cores cpu
Requirement 2 Microsoft standard virtual machine

Do I need to license all the nodes  to get 2 Microsoft Standard virtual machine


Example
3 VSAN nodes + 3x Window Server Standard 16 core = 2 VMS
What if I add 1 VSAN Node (Total of 4 nodes) do I need to to change to 4x Windows server standard 16 core =2 VMS

Or is it license as

1 VSAN node where the VM is running =1x Window Server Standard 16 core
1 VSAN node incase of failover= 1x Windows Server standard 16 core

Total of 2x Windows Server standard 16 core = 2VMS

Thank you

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1 Reply
IRIX201110141
Champion
Champion
‎06-17-2020 02:04 AM

You should ask this in a Microsoft forum. Of course every vSphere Admin can answer this as well because microsoft doesnt make a difference when speaking of Hypervisor solutions.

A Windows Server license is bind to the HW when installed/powered on. If you never migrate (vMotion , HA, $Whatever) the OSI away you licensed this Host and its CPU and youre done.

If you change the OSI(VM) to another HW:

I you have Server Std. OEM its not allowed. Solution is to buy licences for all other Hosts/CPUs as well

If you have Server Std. OpenLIC/Value you can reassign the license every 60 Days. If you would like to vMotion/HA earlier you have to license all the other Hosts/CPUs as well,

If you have Server DataCenter OEM/OpenLic/Value and you have licensed all effected Hosts than you can migrate and move around the VM every second if you like.

If you have a 3 Node Cluster and HA can restart a VM on every of the 3 Hosts than you need a Windows license for ever Host.

If you have Application as MS SQL/Exchange than the next challenge is coming Smiley Wink

Regards,
Joerg

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