[windows software] [Virtual Xen] Windows Server 2016 / Windows 7 on a Xen Hypervisor?

[RJohnson91]

Morning all,

 

I am going to be upgrading the infrastructure in my current workplace.

 

I am going to run a Citrix Xen Hypervisor and host a handful of different Windows virtual machines, for example;4 x Windows Server 20162 x Windows 7

 

With the plan for future expansion.

 

We don't have any Enterprise Agreement and purchase most licenses 'off shelf'.

 

What would be the best way of approaching this?

 

Thanks

[dhicks]

I am going to run a Citrix Xen Hypervisor and host a handful of different Windows virtual machines, for example;4 x Windows Server 20162 x Windows 7

 

Just checking: are you planning to run Xen or Xenserver? Xen is the open-source tool, Xenserver is the propriatory (but still free) one. It used to be that you configured Xen from the command line, but these days I think Xencentre will manage either (you might want to double-check that, though).

 

We have infrastructure running on Xenserver 6.2 - this is now several years old, but has been trundling along reliably enough. We are running Windows Server 2016 VMs with what seem to be no problems. We have disk arrays on each server mirrored for fail-over purposes via DRBD. If starting from scratch, I think I'd aim for something a bit more user-friendly, although the above combination was a reasonable choice at the time, and fitted our budget. For the future, I'm rather think we're aiming to move our infrastructure to the cloud and let it be someone else's problem to take care of the server hardware, although that does rely on a good Internet connection.

[rich_tech]

If he’s mentioned Citrix, I would take it as being xenserver

[RJohnson91]

Hiya,

 

Yep Citrix, Xenserver 7.0 or above.

 

I want to put a few windows server 2016 virtual machines, but not sure on licensing needs.

 

Can I just purchase a physical license ? Is there another, better, cheaper way of licensing these machines?

 

Ryan

[Arthur]

Is there another, better, cheaper way of licensing these machines?

How many physical CPUs and cores do your Xenserver host(s) have?

[RJohnson91]

How many physical CPUs and cores do your Xenserver host(s) have?

 

24 cores

 

I imagined I'd have to license it by core!

[Arthur]

24 cores

Is that 1 x 24 core CPU, 2 x 12 core CPUs or 4 x 6 core CPUs?

 

For our three Hyper-V hosts we purchased Core Infrastructure Server (CIS) licenses which cost ~£300 + VAT per year for each host through our EES agreement and allows us to install the Datacentre edition of Windows Server and use SCCM (which includes anti-virus too). The best thing about the Datacentre edition is that it enables you to create an unlimited number of Windows guest VMs without having to worry about additional licensing.

 

Now that Microsoft have changed from per-socket to per-core licensing it's going to cost you a bit more.

 

https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/2/9/7290EA05-DC56-4BED-9400-138C5701F174/WS2016LicensingDatasheet.pdf

 

Windows Server 2016 Standard and Datacenter: Core-based licensing Core-based licensing requires all physical cores in the server to be licensed. Servers are licensed based on the number of processor cores in the physical server.

 

• A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor and a minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.
  
• Core licenses are sold in packs of two.*
  
• Standard Edition provides rights for up to 2 Operating System Environments or Hyper-V containers when all physical cores in the server are licensed. For each additional 1 or 2 VMs, all the physical cores in the server must be licensed again.
  
• The price of a set of 16 core licenses (for a 2-processor server) for Windows Server 2016 Datacenter and Standard editions is the same price** as the 2-processor license of the corresponding edition of Windows Server 2012 R2. Windows Server 2016 Licensing
  

Azure Hybrid Use Benefit

With the Azure Hybrid Use Benefit, customers with Software Assurance can benefit from special pricing for new Windows Server virtual machines in Azure. Customers pay only for the base compute rate, which is currently the same as the Linux rate for virtual machines. For complete details, visit http://www.azure.com/ahub.

 

** 8 two-core packs will be the minimum required to license each physical server. The two-core pack for each edition is 1/8th the price of a license for a 2-processor server for corresponding Windows Server 2012 R2 editions.

** Rounding may result in slight variations in the final price of eight 2-pack core SKUs relative to the price of one Windows Server 2012 R2 processor SKU.