Your download has started. This download has multiple files. If the download did not start automatically, click the button below. Windows Server is the cloud-ready operating system that delivers new layers of security and Azure-inspired innovation for the applications and infrastructure that power your business. For more details, check out our Ultimate Guide to Windows Server In addition to downloading the Windows Server ISO, you can check out other ways to try the new features:.

Customers who download the full ISO will need to choose an edition and an installation option. The Datacenter edition is the most complete edition and includes the new Datacenter-specific features Shielded Virtual Machines, Storage Spaces Direct, Storage Replica, and Software-Defined Networking in addition to unlimited server virtualization.

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Please select your language:. Ways to try Windows Server In addition to downloading the Windows Server ISO, you can check out other ways to try the new features: TechNet Virtual Labs : Skip the setup work and log into our free TechNet Virtual Labs for a real-world environment along with step-by-step guidance to help you try the new features. Run it in Azure : Azure provides a great way to test Windows Server with pre-built images.

Choose an edition and an installation option: Customers who download the full ISO will need to choose an edition and an installation option. Installation options: Server Core : This is the recommended installation option. Server with Desktop Experience : This is the complete installation and includes a full graphical user interface GUI for customers who prefer this option. Review Windows Server release notes and system requirements.

Register, then download and install. Windows Server Evaluation editions expire in days. Receive email with resources to guide you through your evaluation. Installation Guidelines After installation make sure to install the latest servicing package.

Go to: Microsoft update catalog and search for „Windows Server Starting with the Fall release, Nano Server has been optimized for container use only and Server Core is available for host and guest VM deployments. Community Last Visited:. Community Unlimited Last Visited:. Community Unlimited. The Ultimate Guide to Windows Server Product Resources Last Visited:. Product Resources. Windows Server Website.

– Windows Server Licensing with Windows VMs

 
Standard Edition: Ideal for customers with low density or minimally virtualized environments. This edition is also a great replacement for businesses running Windows Server Foundation as the same edition is not available for Windows Server Find a Partner. Windows Server also includes features like unlimited Windows Server containers.

Windows server standard oem downgrade rights free t licensing briefs |

Windows Server is the operating system that bridges on-premises environments with Azure, adding additional layers of security while helping you modernize your applications and infrastructure. To give you a more consistent licensing experience across multi-cloud environments, we transitioned from processor-based licensing to core-based licensing for Windows Server Datacenter and Standard editions. View the new hybrid, security, infrastructure, and application platform features of Windows Server as compared to previous versions.

Windows Server offers additional features in Standard and Datacenter editions. Windows Server also includes features like unlimited Windows Server containers. Core licenses are sold in packs of two a 2-pack of Core Licenses , and packs of 16 a pack of Core Licenses. Each processor needs to be licensed with a minimum of eight core licenses four 2-packs. Each physical server, including single-processor servers, will need to be licensed with a minimum of 16 Core Licenses eight 2-packs or one pack.

One core license must be assigned for each physical core on the server. Additional cores can then be licensed in increments of two packs or 16 packs. Windows Server Standard and Datacenter editions continue to require Windows Server CALs for every user or device accessing a server see the Product Terms for exceptions , or Windows Server External Connector licenses for servers accessed by external users.

Rather than paying the full price for a new Windows Server virtual machine, you will only pay the base compute rate. Each set of 16 Windows Server core licenses with Software Assurance entitles customers to use Windows Server on Microsoft Azure on up to 16 virtual cores allocated across two or fewer Azure virtual machines.

Each additional set of eight entitles use on up to eight virtual cores and one Base Instance. In other words, once a minimum initial allocation of 16 licenses with Software Assurance is made, customers can add virtual cores up to eight to an existing or new virtual machine with incremental sets of eight licenses. Each incremental set of eight licenses must be allocated to a single virtual machine. With Azure Hybrid Benefit, customers can move or add incremental workloads into Azure and pay non-Windows Linux pricing.

With Datacenter Edition licensing, customers get these lower-cost instances in Azure while maintaining existing on-premises deployments. This is referred to as dual use rights. Standard Edition licensing provides lower-cost instances in Azure, but does not provide dual use rights. This means access to base Windows Server functionality on Azure does not require base Windows Server CALs, and customers can leverage the Azure hosting clause to host their own customer solutions.

Customers may use Windows Server on other public clouds via infrastructure as a service IaaS offerings through authorized Service Providers. In order to provide customers with a variety of options to license Windows Server, Microsoft makes licenses for Windows Server available to Service Providers for sale to customers as part of Service Provider solutions.

This is done through agreement between Microsoft and Service Providers. Windows Server product page. Windows Server licensing guide. Windows Server licensing datasheet. Azure Hybrid Benefit. Introduction to Microsoft Core licensing. Licensing Windows Server for use with virtualization technologies. Windows Server Windows Server is the operating system that bridges on-premises environments with Azure, adding additional layers of security while helping you modernize your applications and infrastructure.

Windows Server site. About Windows Server. Windows Server 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. Choose from three primary editions of Windows Server, based on the size of your organization as well as virtualization and datacenter requirements:.

Datacenter edition is ideal for highly virtualized and software-defined datacenter environments. Standard edition is ideal for customers with low density or non-virtualized environments. Essentials edition is a cloud-connected first server, ideal for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices.

Essentials is a good option for customers currently using the Foundation edition, which has been discontinued. Essentials edition is licensed under the Specialty Servers license model and does not require Windows Server CALs to access the server.

Pricing To give you a more consistent licensing experience across multi-cloud environments, we transitioned from processor-based licensing to core-based licensing for Windows Server Datacenter and Standard editions. Compare Features View the new hybrid, security, infrastructure, and application platform features of Windows Server as compared to previous versions.

Licensing Guide Use this guide to improve your understanding of how to license Microsoft Windows Server. Feature comparison Windows Server offers additional features in Standard and Datacenter editions. Expand all Collapse all. How are core licenses sold? Can you tell me more about the Azure Hybrid Benefit? Does Software Assurance coverage on Windows Server licenses provide rights to deploy on public clouds other than Azure?

Does the price of Windows Server vary based on Service Providers hosters? Core Windows Server functionality. Hyper-Converged Infrastructure. Windows Server Containers without Hyper-V isolation. Host Guardian Service. Storage Replica 1. Shielded virtual machines VMs. Software-defined networking. Software-defined storage.