Introduction
Over the last couple of years, Microsoft Windows Server licensing has undergone many changes and adjustments. The different license models provided through License Intelligence Service (LIS) reflect these changes with a dedicated license model for each state. The question, which license model is the right one for your license compliance depends on your purchase history and possible transformations based on the development of your relevant volume license agreements with Microsoft.
The name of each license model provides the information to allocate it in the history of Windows Server licensing terms.
Naming convention is: <Windows Server Edition> <product version with which terms have become effective> | <metric> ([SPLA]; <valid virtualization policy>; <license mobility policy>)
Example: The license models "Windows Standard 2016..." were introduced with that version but apply also for Windows Server 2019.
All Editions
| Name of License Model |
Description |
| Windows Server 2022 I Core per OSE + CAL (Full Virtualization, Mobility) |
Available for subscription licenses or licenses with active Software Assurance (SA) only. All relevant CALs must also be subscription or have active SA. Customer may use the software in one Virtual OSE on the Licensed Server (Hypervisor), The number of Licenses required equals the number of Virtual Cores in the Virtual OSE, subject to a minimum of 8 Licenses per Virtual OSE. This license model is not eligible for stand-alone, non-virtualized OS. |
Standard Edition
| Name of License Model |
Description |
| Windows Standard 2003 R2 | CPU (SPLA; No Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per processor or operating system environment running the software including virtual machines hosted now or during minimum entitlement period. |
| Windows Standard 2003 R2 | Server + CAL (No Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per operating system environment running the software in physical and any virtual machines hosted now or during minimum entitlement period. |
| Windows Standard 2008 | CPU (SPLA; Ltd. Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per processor or operating system environment running the software including virtual machines hosted now or during minimum entitlement period. One virtual machine is included with first license. |
| Windows Standard 2012 | 2 CPU + CAL (Ltd. Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per 2 processors and operating system environments running the software on a physical machine during minimum entitlement period. If host operating system is used for hosting only then one additional copy is included. |
| Windows Standard 2016 | Core (SPLA; Ltd. Virtualization; No Mobility) |
Number of physical cores, but minimum 8 cores per CPU socket. Two VM are included, for every two additional virtual machines all physical cores have to be licensed. |
| Windows Standard 2016 | Core + CAL (Ltd. Virtualization; No Mobility) |
Number of physical cores, but minimum 8 cores per CPU socket and minimum of 16 cores per physical server. Two VM are included, for every two additional virtual machines all physical cores have to be licensed. |
Enterprise Edition
| Name of License Model |
Description |
| Windows Enterprise 2003 R2 | CPU (SPLA; Ltd. Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per processor and operating system environments running the software. If host operating system is used for hosting only then one additional copy is included. Four virtual operating system environments are included per license. |
| Windows Enterprise 2003 R2 | Server + CAL (Ltd. Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per four operating system environments running the software now or during minimum entitlement period. If host operating system is used for hosting only then one additional copy is included. |
Datacenter Edition
| Name of License Model |
Description |
| Windows Datacenter 2003 | CPU (SPLA; Full Virtualization; No Mobility) |
Microsoft licensing per physical CPU including unlimited virtual instances on SPLA |
| Windows Datacenter 2003 | CPU + CAL (Full Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per physical processor with unlimited number of hosted virtual machines included. |
| Windows Datacenter 2003 | Server + CAL/EC (Full Virtualization) |
licensing per server including any virtual instances |
| Windows Datacenter 2012 | 2 CPU + CAL (Full Virtualization; No Mobility) |
Microsoft licensing per 2 physical CPU including unlimited virtual instances |
| Windows Datacenter 2016 | Core (SPLA; Full Virtualization; No Mobility) |
Number of physical cores, but minimum 8 cores per CPU socket. |
| Windows Datacenter 2016 | Core + CAL (Full Virtualization; No Mobility) |
Number of physical cores, but minimum 8 cores per CPU socket and minimum of 16 cores per physical server. |
Other Editions
| Name of License Model |
Description |
| Windows Essentials 2011 | Server (No Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per operating system environment running the software. |
| Windows Essentials 2012 R2 | Server (Ltd. Virtualization, No Mobility) |
One license per Operating System instance running the software. If running in a virtual machine and physical instance is used for hosting only, physical instance does not need a license. |
| Windows Essentials 2016 | CPU (SPLA; Ltd. Virtualization; No Mobility) |
One license per processor or operating system environment running the software including virtual machines hosted now or during minimum entitlement period. One virtual machine is included with first license. |
| Windows MultiPoint 2016 | Server + CAL/EC (Ltd. Virtualization, No Mobility) |
One license per Operating System instance running the software. If running in a virtual machine and physical instance is used for hosting only, physical instance does not need a license. |
