Windows Server BYOL decoded
Understand the differences between many Windows Server licensing scenarios in the Cloud. We compare Azure, AWS, Google, and "regular" providers.
Note: new sections are being added to this article. Please bookmark and revisit this page.
Windows Server Core license requirements
There are the following differences in Core license requirements in the Cloud:
Licensing Windows Server | Core license requirements | References |
|---|---|---|
Azure Pay-As-You-Go | N/A - provided by Azure. | |
Azure Hybrid Benefit | At least eight core licenses per virtual machine. | |
Pay-As-You-Go from any provider except Azure | N/A - provided as a part of the service. | |
BYOL to dedicated hosts on Listed Providers: Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft | At least eight core licenses per CPU, and at least 16 core licenses per host. Available only to licenses originally purchased before October 01, 2019 – Read below. | |
BYOL to shared and dedicated hosting on all providers except Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft | Physical hosts: at least eight core licenses per CPU, and at least 16 core licenses per host. Per VM: at least eight core licenses per virtual machine. Software Assurance or subscription required. | |
BYOL on CSP-Hosters | See above, no exceptions | See above |
“License Included” from CSP-Hosters | See above, no exceptions | See above |
Dedicated Hosts on Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft Azure
When may you assign Windows Server licenses to dedicated hosts on Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft Azure?
You may only assign Windows Server licenses to dedicated hosts on Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft Azure when:
The licences are perpetual and
The licenses were bought before October 01, 2019.
What is a "dedicated host"?
It means that you rent a piece of hardware, and everything that runs on it is yours. The other name is "single-tenant". VMware solutions on big Cloud platforms are always dedicated.
Does Software Assurance renewal affect BYOL for Windows Server?
It does not. Even if you renewed Software Assurance after October 01, 2019, the only thing that matters is the original purchase date on the perpetual license.
Do I need Software Assurance to assign Windows Server licenses to dedicated hosts on Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft Azure?
No, you don't.
Windows Server Cross-Edition rights
Microsoft Product Terms and SPUR permit running Windows Server Standard instances under Windows Server Datacenter licences.
Normally, the opposite is not permitted. However, there are two exceptions when Windows Server Standard licenses may be assigned to Windows Server Datacenter machines in the Cloud:
In Azure via Azure Hybrid Benefit,
In a CSP-Hoster environment – "License Included" scenario only – when the CSP-Hoster provides a license with the virtual machine.
Windows Server Client Access License requirements
There are the following differences between the Windows Server CAL requirements in the Cloud:
Licensing Windows Server | Are CALs required? | References |
|---|---|---|
Azure Pay-As-You-Go | No | |
Azure Hybrid Benefit | No. Licenses brought to Azure via AHUB substitute Pay-As-You-Go licenses and do not introduce CAL requirements. | |
Pay-As-You-Go from any provider except Azure | No. That is because providers use SPLA licensing, which does not require CALs (SALs) for core Windows Server functionality. | |
BYOL to dedicated hosts on Listed Providers: Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft | Yes. Volume licensing terms apply. | |
BYOL to shared and dedicated hosting on all providers except Amazon, Google, Alibaba, and Microsoft (also see CSP-Hoster exceptions below) | Yes. Volume licensing terms apply. | Windows Server licensing terms |
BYOL on CSP-Hosters | Yes | See above |
“License Included” from CSP-Hosters | No | See above plus Outsourcing on Cloud Solution Provider-Hosters |
RDS CAL requirements
RDS CALs are always required.