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Braveheart1512
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Windows server 2008 Licences

Hi,

I have a question about server 2008 licences.

At the moment we have 4 ESX 3.5 nodes in our cluster. Each server has 2 processors quad core. With server 2003 Datacentre you purchased Server 2003 per core and were allowed to run an unlimited number of Virtual Servers. Does the same rules apply to 2008 Data Centre?

Thanks for all help / advice

John

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vmroyale
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Yes. "The use rights also allow the choice of running Windows Server 2008 (or previous version) Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter in the virtual instances."

If you license 2008 Datacenter properly, you can run Standard, Enterprise or Datacenter versions of 2003 or 2008.

Keep in mind this licensing is per physical server or host, and it isn't cheap. For example, If you only plan on running 4 VMs with Windows Standard on 1 physical host, you may be better off purchasing the 4 copies of Windows 200x Standard individually.

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com

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vmroyale
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John,

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter is licensed by the processor plus Windows Server Client Access Licenses (CALs) and includes unlimited virtualization rights.

Check this page for all the full detail.

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com
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vmPUNK
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"Windows Server 2008 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 Datacenter without purchasing additional licenses. "

to clarify - does this mean that if i have a 4 way esx and buy 4 way 2008 license i can run as many 2008 vms as i want to? plus cals

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vmroyale
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Yes, if you have a 4 proc server, and license 4 processors (and CALs) for 2008 Datacenter you are entitled to run unlimited Windows 2008 (or previous) VMs on that single 4 proc server.

"The use rights also allow the choice of running Windows Server 2008 (or previous version) Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter in the virtual instances."

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com
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Braveheart1512
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Just to clarify the down grade rights of Server 2008 Data Centre. Does that allow us to run unlimited VM's running Server 2003 Standard or Enterprise??

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vmroyale
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Yes. "The use rights also allow the choice of running Windows Server 2008 (or previous version) Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter in the virtual instances."

If you license 2008 Datacenter properly, you can run Standard, Enterprise or Datacenter versions of 2003 or 2008.

Keep in mind this licensing is per physical server or host, and it isn't cheap. For example, If you only plan on running 4 VMs with Windows Standard on 1 physical host, you may be better off purchasing the 4 copies of Windows 200x Standard individually.

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com
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Jasemccarty
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Keep in mind, to use downgrade rights, the 2008 Datacenter must be obtained with such a license.

If you buy a new server, with an OEM copy of 2008 Datacenter Edition, you may or may not have downgrade rights. With an Open License, you should be fine, but make sure if you purchase 2008 Datacenter Edition (OEM) with a system, that the OEM license allows for downgrade rights.

Jase McCarty

http://www.jasemccarty.com

Co-Author of the upcoming book, Essential VMware ESX

Jase McCarty - @jasemccarty
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