Server 2003 Virtual Licensing

[Cache]

Hi all

 

I'm just checking I've got this straight in my head before I start rebuilding servers over the holidays.

 

If I have a Server 2003 Standard edition, am I licenced to have the host machine and a virtual machine running on the same box? Is it just a single virtual server I'm licenced for, or is it for (or is that enterprise edition or something to do with server 2008?).

 

Thanks

[ChrisH]

I believe it is one for standard and 3 for enterprise.

[tmcd35]

I didn't think Server 2003 had any VM licensing? I thought that got added with 2008. Server Standard allows for 1 copy to run in a VM on the same machine. Enterprise is four VM's on the same machine. Datacenter is unlimited VM's on the same machine but datacenter is licensed per physical processor (not cores) - so if you have two quad-core processors and you want to install Datacenter you'd need 2 copies for the 1 server.

[PiqueABoo]

I'm not authoritative (MS have enough trouble doing that consistently!) but I think it's:

 

1) 2003 R2 Standard only gets you one licence i.e. you are NOT licensed for a host machine and a virtual machine running on the same box.

 

2) 2003 R2 Enterprise is the same as 2008 [R2] Enterprise i.e. licenses you for 1 host + 4 virtual 2003's on the same box.

[SYNACK]

I also thought that the virtualization rights only kicked in at 2008. If you have your servers under a Volume License Schools Agreement though you should be fine as you would have a license for the latest version and are just using downgrade rights.

 

Here is what I found on the MS site for 2008 R2 Standard which seems to indicate you can have one virtual and one host from a single Standard license:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/licensing-overview.aspx

Expanded Use Rights for Windows Server 2008 Standard to Support Virtualization Scenarios

To continue enabling software virtualization, Microsoft is expanding use rights for Windows Server 2008 Standard. With Windows Server 2008 Standard, you may now run one instance of the server software in the physical operating system environment and one instance of the server software in a virtual operating system environment.

[PiqueABoo]

Ack.. fires up Google and by-and-by this Microsoft document says:

 

In the December 2005 PUR, Microsoft is also introducing expanded use rights for Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition and SQL Server 2005. These expanded use rights are summarized in the following table. They apply only to the specific editions described. They do not apply to previous versions of these products.

 

[relevant bit of table]

Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition: Each software license allows you to run, at any one time, one instance of the server software in a physical OS environment and up to four instances of the server software in virtual OS environments on a particular server.

 

AIUI there were no updates to 2003 R2 Standard i.e. it remained the original one license per instance, whether physical or virtual, hence the word "expanding" as opposed to say "continuing" in SYNACK's 2008 Standard quote.

Edited July 2, 2010 by PiqueABoo

[Cache]

Ah right, so they extended it to 2003R2 but not the original 2003.

 

Guess I'll cough up for another 2008 licence then.

 

Thanks all.

[mpe]

Hi all

 

I'm just checking I've got this straight in my head before I start rebuilding servers over the holidays.

 

If I have a Server 2003 Standard edition, am I licenced to have the host machine and a virtual machine running on the same box? Is it just a single virtual server I'm licenced for, or is it for (or is that enterprise edition or something to do with server 2008?).

 

You probably want "Datacenter(sic)" since that's the only one which is "virtualisation friendly".