Windows Server 2012 Standard License and VMs

Hi,
With one Window server 2012 Standard activated license, I will get 2 VMs. So is there a limit with Windows Server 2012 standard license I can stack and the the number of VMs I can create on one server or across servers (virtual environment). Consider that
all Windows server 2012 standard licenses are activated. If there is no limit on VM creation by add Standard license then why did Microsoft come with Data center licenses with unlimited VMs.
How does the standard license work on Vmware environment. Is there a limit on the number for VMs that we can create.
Please advise me.
Thanks.

If i had one server 2012 standard with its key, i could run it as a vm but not as a virtual host without having the license right?
a single WS2012STD license, allows you to run a server machine (hardware), if that hardware has no more than 2 processors. In this case, you can run 2 VMs, each VM is running WS2012STD. You can also run WS2012STD as the host hypervisor via Hyper-V.
So, that's really 3 OS installations, on the same 2proc machine. The limitation is that the host hypervisor OS is only permitted to do Hyper-V stuff, it's not permitted to use that OS for anything other than hypervisor functions.
If you implement in this way, you would only have purchased a single license for WS2012STD, so you would only have a single key, so you would use that key for the 3 OS installations.
If i bought the single server 2012 standard license, i'd be able to install it as a Host and activate with the key and it'd give me rights to run 2vms on it and for those vms i would have to have 2 keys to activate after installing server 2012 standart
software on them right?
see above.
if you buy via Volume Licensing, things change a little bit due to MAK/KMS keys (it gets a whole lot simpler :)
Sorry for being unclear on the clusters part, i meant HA/failover. we have 2 2008R2 enterprise servers in cluster with shared storage and i was trying to clarify how could i add more vms there.
assuming your failover solution involves traditional server hardware, each failover node is just another hardware machine, so, for each node you have to count up the procs and VMs, just as you would do for non-failover implementations.
if a server is installed and running/executing, it needs to be licensed.
with current configuration, each server is hosting 2vms and if anything happens single host can accommodate all four. I am assuming we have 2 enterprise licenses for them, but if i wanted to run 4vms on each host, we have to buy 2 more enterprise licenses
and install vm togerther with their keys?
There is no Enterprise for WS2012? (WS2012 has STD and DCE)
do you mean as in WS2008R2ENT ?
You can re-assign licenses from one machine to another machine (under the Volume Licensing terms. I'm not sure about Retail terms, you should check that). There are limitations on how often you can reassign licenses (no more than every 90days)
If hardware "fails", you are allowed to reassign the license in a shorter period than 90days.
Don
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Server 2012 Standard license and VM license for windows instances

Hi,
A question about VM instances on standard server 2012 license exists here
I cannot link it here as my account is not verified. The topic is titled "Windows Server 2012 Standard License and VMs"
My question is tad different...
If I understand this correctly, 1 windows server standard license provides support for 1 Physical Operating System Environment (The VM Host / POSE) and permission to run 2 Virtual Operating System Environment(VOSE).
Does this imply that I can install 2 additional instances of Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition on the permitted 2 VM instances on the server? Or... should I purchase additional licenses for each VOSE that runs windows?
Does the standard license provide rights to run 2 Virtual instances AND offer install and activation rights for 2 MS windows (virtual) environments AND install and activation rights for the windows host?
If license is require for each instance of server 2012 running on the VM ... can I avoid purchasing additional licenses for operating systems, say, if I run 2 Centos operating system instances in 2 VOSE?
Please help!
Thanks.

Licensing questions should be asked of a trained Microsoft licensing specialist. I haven't seen one of those lurking in this forum. www.microsoft.com/licensing.
That said, licenses are assigned to the physical host, not to VMs. The License you assign to the host grants you the "right to run" addition virtual operating system environments running Windows Server. It does not grant you additional licenses.
Licensing for Microsoft Windows Server operating system is controlled by Microsoft. Licensing for any other operating system is not covered by the virtualization rights of the Windows Server operating system. Therefore, if the CentOS virtual machines
are properly licensed by whoever licenses them, you can run however many instances that license allows.
A single Standard Edition license can be installed on the physical host granting you the right to run up to two virtual instances of Standard Edition. However, if you run additional services, such as file services or Active Directory or IIS, etc.,
on the physical instance, that means you can only run one additional virtual instance of Windows Server.
Free advice is worth every cent.
.:|:.:|:. tim

Windows Server 2012 Standard Evalution activation

Hi Guys.
I have deployed a Windows Server 2012 Standard Evaluation and have installed AD, DNS and DHCP roles on the server, and it is now my production server, i have a Volume Licence Key and now needs to activate it to Windows Standard 2012 Standard and not Evaluation,
kindly assist i am only left with 3 days.
Regards
NicWaks

You might have a problem here. This is an extract from that TechNet article
If the server is a domain controller, you cannot convert it to a retail version. In this case, install an additional domain controller on a server that runs a retail version and remove AD DS from the domain controller that runs on the evaluation version
Gerry Hampson | Blog:
www.gerryhampsoncm.blogspot.ie | LinkedIn:
Gerry Hampson | Twitter:
@gerryhampson

REMOTE DESKTOP SERVICES CLIENT ACCESS LICENSES FOR MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2012 STANDARD AND DATACENTER

I am using a window 7 professional service pack 1 and I purchase REMOTE DESKTOP SERVICES CLIENT ACCESS LICENSES FOR MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2012 STANDARD AND DATACENTER. but the seller did not send me any installation CD or instruction
on how to use it.
Please how can I use it on my window 7 professional service pack 1.
Thank you.

Though Bill is absolutely correct for most CALs, Remote Desktop Services does have its own special licensing server. I haven't installed one on 2012, yet, but here is a step-by-step guide for 2008.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd983943(v=ws.10).aspx
Here is a lab guide for 2012 -
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134160.aspx
But, the explanation of your environment begs the question - what are you trying to do? You say you have a desktop OS and you are talking about Windows Server products. In that light, your question does not make a lot of sense.
. : | : . : | : . tim

VMs per Windows Server 2012 Std License?

Hello All,
Can anybody help me please? I have a question in Windows Server 2012 Std License.
1. If I have 2 Windows 2012 STD Licenses ( 2 CPUs) howmany VMs ( Windows 2012 Server OS installed) can I have on the same Physical Server?
2. Can we assign more than 1 license to a host?
3. If the limit is 4 VMs( 4 Windows server 2012 Std VMs) can we have more/other VMs ( like Linux) in-addition to 4 eligible VMs?
Thanks in advance,
Sudhir

In the Hyper-V world, virtual machines are not licensed. Microsoft does not require that you purchase a license for a virtual machine, ever.
Microsoft does require that you purchase a license in order to run a virtual instance of Windows, always. So, if you have 3 virtual instances of Windows Server Standard, then you need to purchase two Windows Server Standard licenses for the host, because
each license allows for up to two virtual instances of Windows Server Standard.
Since Microsoft does not require that you purchase a license for a virtual machine, they will not charge you to run non-Microsoft operating systems inside them. Whether or not you have to pay for a Linux virtual instance is entirely dependent
upon the licensing of that Linux distribution. Any checks you write for them wouldn't be to Microsoft, though.
This means that, yes, you can legally run an unlimited number of Linux guests on Hyper-V without paying additional licensing fees to Microsoft. If you are using Hyper-V Server and have no Windows guests, you won't pay Microsoft anything. If you are using
Windows Server with Hyper-V and have no Windows guests, then you have to pay for a single host license but you won't pay Microsoft anything else.
In the scenario that you presented, the necessary Microsoft licensing for a dual-core host with WS12-Std installed, 3 WS12-Std guests, and any number of Linux guests will be covered by two WS12-Std licenses. You have one leftover WS12-Std instance that
you can legally run on that host.
Eric Siron
Altaro Hyper-V Blog
I am an independent blog contributor, not an Altaro employee. I am solely responsible for the content of my posts.

Assign 2 of Windows Server 2012 Standard edition licensing question

I'm new at this and I have bought Windows 2012 Standard with 5 CALs back in January from Microsoft store on the Internet using as the host. There is Windows 2008 R2 installed as the virtual machine on the host. Few hours ago I have decided to buy another
license with 5 CALs to upgrade those even that I did need two license of Windows 2012 Standard anyway to support 4 physical processor as my server have quad core processor.
The question here that I need to ask is how do I assign 2 license of Windows Server 2012 Standard edition on the host to lift the limit and that up to 4 VMs will be allowed or does it automatically do that after upgrading to Windows 2012 Standard in
the virtual machine even that 5 CALs plus 5 CALs equal 10 CALs are done automatically?

Hello,
You have 2 questions here:
1. How can I stack multiple OS licence in order to have more virtualization rights (more VMs) running on that host?
2. How can I stack Windows CAL licence from OEM.
Answers are:
1. You only have to licence the original licence on the physical host. You can use the same license key for all 4 VMs or use 2 VM key from the first package and 2 VM keys from the second licence package you just bought.
There is nowhere to register those licence, except one by one inside the VM themselves.
You have to keep all licence document in case of control by Microsoft.
2. Windows CAL allows a user (or a computer) to connect to an unlimited number of Windows Server within your company network. You have 10 CAL so you can have up to 10 users or computers in your company that will connect to your servers (even if you have 1.000
servers)
There is nowhere to register those licence, except one by one inside the VM themselves.
You have to keep all licence document in case of control by Microsoft.
Regards
PS: The only licence that require maintenance and central registration are Remote Desktop Licences.
MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator 2010 MCTS: Lync Server 2010, Configuring MCSE
That is what I thought as I was told before even seen licensing details except a direction of how to attach the second license and I had to make sure. Thank you

Windows Server 2012 Standard - OS licensing for physical servers

Hi,
With Windows Server 2012 Standard, I can install the OS on up to two virtual machines.
For physical machines, how many physical servers can I install the OS on if I don't use any VMs?
Thanks

Hi,
Just to add, each license covers up to two physical processors. If you have more than two physical processors in a server, you need to assign additional licenses for it.
More information, please refer to the link below:
Windows Server and Processor Cores… (Part 2): Windows Server 2012
Best regards,
Susie

Windows server 2012 Standard Edition Licensing

We have SPLA aggrement with MS.
I know, can use two physical processors with Windows server 2012 Standard Edition.
If i am planning to install Windows server 2012 Standard Edition in a virtual environment, lets say it has four cores, then how many licenses we need to buy for this ? Is it like each core has been considered as an separate processor in virtual environment
for Windows server 2012 Standard Edition licensing ?
Thanks,
Amit.

We have SPLA aggrement with MS.
I know, can use two physical processors with Windows server 2012 Standard Edition.
If i am planning to install Windows server 2012 Standard Edition in a virtual environment, lets say it has four cores, then how many licenses we need to buy for this ? Is it like each core has been considered as an separate processor in virtual environment
for Windows server 2012 Standard Edition licensing ?
Note that some information will be different for SPLA (so, check the SPUR to ensure you are in correct compliance).
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/licensing-options/spla-program.aspx
http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/DocumentSearch.aspx?Mode=3&DocumentTypeId=2
(if the information provided, clearly states that "this applies to all Volume Licensing programs", this also applies to SPLA, unless SPUR states differently)
(contact your reseller/partner/advisor, or MSFT VL team if you are unsure)
Windows Server 2012 R2 FAQ
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/windowsserver2012-r2.aspx#tab=4
Windows Server 2012 R2 Licensing Guide
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/4/E64F72BF-55E9-4D85-9EFE-39605D7CE272/WindowsServer2012R2_Licensing_Guide.pdf
Licensing Brief - Licensing Windows Server 2012 R2 for Use with Virtualization Technologies
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/briefs/win2008-virtual.aspx
Licensing Brief - Licensing Microsoft Server Products for Use in Virtual Environments
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/briefs/virtual-licensing.aspx
Don
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This helps the community, keeps the forums tidy, and recognises useful contributions. Thanks!)

Migrate SBS 2003 with AD and Exchange to Windows Server 2012 Standard

We are using SBS 2003 and we have configured Exchange server and AD with DNS and DHCP. Now we are planning to move SBS 2003 to Separate servers like windows server 2012 standard AD with DNS and DHCP and Windows server 2012 Standard with Exchange
2010.
Is it Possible?? we need step by step guide.
Thanks in advance.

Hi,
You probably would not find any step by step guide for this kind of migrations. If you are not comfortable with doing such migrations I would recommend to if you need to do it your self do some test migrations. Or otherwise get help by a local IT company
that is familiar with migrations.
But to give you some information, first thing before starting a migration is check the health of your SBS 2003 server / domain. Use tools like dcdiag, netdiag and best practice analyzer. I wrote a blog post about steps to think about before you start this
might help: http://blog.ronnypot.nl/?p=914
When every thing is clean you can start adding the new windows server 2012 machines as member servers to your domain.
Next you can promote one of the servers to additional domain controller on your domain (Keep in mind SBS needs to hold all FSMO roles so moving these is the last step your should do.) Also promoting a windows server 2012 to domain controller has slightly
changed, you need to install the ADDS role and follow the wizard to promote the server to a DC.
With installation of the new DC install DNS allongsite it will automatic replicate settings during confiugration.
DHCP must be installed manual, depending on your scope and settings it might be as easy to create a new scope and disable the old dhcp server.
On the server Exchange needs to be installed, make sure you install and do all pre-requirements. Than install Exchange it will automaticly detect you already have an Exchange organization and is installed as additional server. You can configure all settings
and when everything is configured right you start moving mailboxes.
When everything is moved away from the SBS 2003 server, uninstall exchange, move the FSMO roles to the new DC and after that demote the sbs 2003 server so it is not listed anymore as an additional DC in the domain. Last would be shutdown the server and remove
all records left in AD and DNS.
There is this guide for migrating SBS 2003 to windows server 2008 R2 and Exchange 2010, this might give you some usefull information, not everything will be the same but it is a good start:
http://demazter.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/migrate-small-business-server-2003-to-exchange-2010-and-windows-2008-r2/
Regards Ronny
Visit my Blog or follow me on
Twitter

Is it possible to install SQL Server 2012 Standard Edition on a Windows Server 2012 Standard Which is installed on a Virtual Machine that is created by Hyper-V?

Hi
I have recently bought a Virtual Machine from a data center and installed a Windows Server 2012 Standard Edition on it. As I tried to install the SQL Server 2012 Standard Edition, the data center administrator denied me to do this telling me it is not possible
to install any licensed Microsoft software on a Windows installed on virtual machine created by Hyper-V. It was really strange for me! I wanna know if this is true.
Thanks Everybody

Hi Farid,
For SQL server running on virtual server please refer to following article :
http://blogs.technet.com/b/peeyusht/archive/2010/03/19/sql-licensing-under-virtualization.aspx
In addition , for license issue we still recommend you to contact MS Activation Center:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/activation-centers.aspx
Best Regards,
Elton Ji
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected] .

How to install device cals on Windows Server 2012 standard edition

Hello i have a windows server 2012 standard edition licence that i have taken on rent from an ISP.
i have created a domain controller on that.
By default only two users can use remote desktop to the server simultaneously.
My Requirement is 20 users can use remote desktop to the server at the same time.For that i have purchased 20 Delive CALs licences like volume licencing.
i have the licence number noted on the paper.
do i need to install remote desktop services first etc ?
Could anyone guide me step by step how can i install or configure so that 20 users can use remote desktop on the same time.

Hi,
Any update about the issue?
I would agree with others, you need to install Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses.
There are three methods by which you can install Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) onto your license server:
• Install Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses Automatically
• Install Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses by Using a Web Browser
• Install Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses by Using the Telephone
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725890.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
Then you can install both Per User and Per Device CALs onto the same license server.
Regards.
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected]

Migrate SBS 2003 to Windows Server 2012 Standard

We currently have two servers (SBS 2003 Standard utilizing Exchange 2003; Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard with SQL 2005).
We want to retire the SBS or maybe both.
We have purchased a new server (Windows Server 2012 Standard with licenses for Exchange 2013 and SQL 2012).
Is there a whitepaper that describes how to migrate SBS 2003 to Windows Server 2012 Standard?
Is it possible to run Exchange 2013 on the Windows Server 2012 box? In Hyper-V? If Exchange can run in a virtualized instance, do we need additional licensing to run another instance of Windows Server 2012 Standard?
Can we run SQL 2012 on the same Windows Server 2012 box?
We have about 35 users.

Sal,
Migration went fine. Steps i took:
Join 2012 Standard server as member.
Migrated roles.
I ended up manually creating new shares. The old environment was a mess.
Robocopy data/verified.
Seize FSMO roles
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255504
Metadata cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216498
Good luck

Acrobat X Standard on Windows Server 2012 Standard

Hi,
We are upgrading to Windows Server 2012 standard and have primary propriatory program that requires Acrobat X Standard. Will Acrobat X Standard install and run on Server 2012 Standard??
Thanx,
Mel

It should work according to the Tech Specs.
Please note Acrobat is not licensed for server use.
Automation on a server is a "no-no" too.
Please read the License: http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/legal/licenses-terms/pdf/Acr obat_X_suite.pdf

SharePoint 2013 OS: Windows Server 2008 R2 vs Windows Server 2012 Standard

Hi Team,
We are thinking on upgrading from SharePoint 2010 to SP 2013 soon. I have been researching about the server OS I should install as host, and it seems that SharePoint 2013 is fully compatible by now with both Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard + SP1 and
Windows Server 2012 Standard. In my opinion we should go with server 2012, but Windows server 2008 is the norm here at our organization and our Infrastructure team seems reluctant to upgrade servers to 2012 yet.
My question is, what SharePoint or Windows 2012 features will we miss if we decide to stay on Windows 2008? What are the perks (selling points) of going with 2012 over 2008? (besides the obvious Microsoft support range extension).
Thanks!
-Rob.

If you stay on Windows Server 2008 R2 you will enter the extended/out of support phase sooner, of course. You will miss out on IIS improvements, although in practical terms it may not mean much.
There are extra patches required for a 2008 R2 deployment that are not needed on 2012 for SharePoint 2013. But other than that, I think the other big issue is that mostly in the community, you'll find people running Server 2012 which means issues are better
'known' by the community, versus 2008 R2 in combination with SharePoint 2013.
Trevor Seward
Follow or contact me at...
&nbsp&nbsp
This post is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of Microsoft, its employees, or other MVPs.

Windows Server 2012 Standard - HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus printer not working after promoting to Domain Controller / AD Services

An associate and myself installed the built-in drivers for the HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus multi-function (network) printer on a Windows Server 2012 Standard server installation and everything worked fine whenever I want to print anything directly from the
Windows Server machine (there's a reason for this, so please understand that ;) ).
We were able to print without any problems from the Windows Server 2012 machine, using the drivers from Microsoft. Mainly, because HP has not listed any specific support for Windows Server 2012, only Windows Server 2008 R2, however, the drivers that
came with Windows 2012 seem to work very well.
PROBLEM: I later had to promote the Windows Server 2012 to a Domain Controller, and created the Active Directory configurations, even enabled the Print Services. After doing all of that, the HP printer will not print anything. It's like all print
requests directly from the Windows Server go to Nil.
Has anyone encountered a problem like this before? The only thing I can think of is that after perhaps something affected printing directly once we promoted the server to being a DC, and added other features / roles. I even tried installing the
HP drivers for Windows Server 2008 R2, and the results are still the same...nothing prints. Trust me, the printer is set as the Default Printer and even when choosing to print, we make sure the HP OfficeJet Pro is selected, and is on, as other Windows
Client PC's can print to it directly.
Does anyone have any suggestions we could try? Thanks in advance.

While it is quite a while since this was posted - I can concur a similar issue exists.
We have spent the better part of a day trying to work out why other HP printers work fine but our 8620 prints are not printing and going to Nil. The print server is hosted on a shared DC. Comparing to the initial posters details, for some reason
it seems to be most commonly related to the OfficeJet Pro 8600/8610/8620/8630 series printers.
I ended up doing a print server migration from the domain controller to stand alone host and all printers now work from a single server rather than a mix. Domain controller OSes varied from 2008, 2012, 2012 R2 (tested with multiple) and only after
all of those failed then tried a stand alone server os machine as a last resort which worked fine. Printing directly from Win 7 / 8 /8.1 clients to the IP always worked.

Windows Server 2012 Standard License and VMs

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