
© 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The information in this document represents the current view of Microsoft on the
content. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.
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Licensing Windows Server 2019
The o perating system that bridges o n -premises and Azure services
Overview of Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019 is the operating system that bridges on-premises environments with Azure services,
enabling hybrid scenarios that maximize existing investments. Increase security and reduce business risk
with multiple layers of protection built into the operating system. Evolve your datacenter infrastructure to
achieve greater efficiency and scale with Hyper-converged Infrastructure. Enable developers and IT pros to
create cloud native applications and modernize their traditional apps using containers and micro-services.
Windows Server 2019 editions
The right edition for your organization size, datacenter, and virtualization requirements.
Windows Server
2019 Datacenter
For highly virtualized datacenters
and cloud environments
Windows Server
2019 Standard
For physical or minimally
virtualized environments
Windows Server
2019 Essentials
For small businesses with up to
25 users and 50 devices
Microsoft Hyper-
V Server 2019
Free hypervisor download.
Unique hybrid
capabilities with Azure
Advanced multi-layer
security
Faster innovation for
applications
Unprecedented Hyper-
Converged

© 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The information in this document represents the current view of Microsoft on the
content. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.
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Datacenter and Standard edition per-core licensing
Windows Server 2019 Datacenter and Standard editions are licensed by physical core. Licenses are sold in
2-packs and 16-packs.
Minimum license requirements
• All physical cores must be licensed
• 8 core licenses per processor
• 16 core licenses per server
Per-core licensing scenarios
Physical Cores
per Processor
Number of 2-core
packs needed
Standard edition license stacking for OSEs
• Standard edition is licensed for 2 operating system environments (OSEs)
or Hyper-V containers.
Additional OSEs require additional licenses.
Azure Hybrid Benefit
Customers with Software Assurance save significantly on
Azure over the cost of running Windows Server in other
public clouds:
What is Azure Hybrid Benefit?
A Software Assurance benefit that enables you to migrate to
cloud at big savings. Save up to 49% on Windows Server
virtual machines (VMs) by paying base compute2 rates.
How do I qualify?
You qualify if you have active Software Assurance on your on-premises Windows Server licenses.3
Datacenter is licensed for unlimited OSEs.
Base compute equals Linux rates.
Each Windows Server 2-processor license OR each 16-core license set is entitled to two Azure instances with up to 8 cores each, or
one instance up to 16 cores. Benefit applies both to Standard and Datacenter editions. No program restrictions, i.e. benefit available
irrespective of where customer buys their Azure: EA, CSP, Web direct, etc.
Save up to 80% on Windows Server
with
Azure Hybrid Benefit and Reserved
Instances.
For more details, see Azure.com/ahub.