Windows Licences and Azure

Windows Server 2012 r2 brings a consistent licensing model and common features (for enterprises). These options are Standard and Datacenter.

Both Standard and Datacenter editions provide the same set of features; the only thing that differentiates the editions is the number of Virtual Machines (VMs). A Standard edition license will entitle you to run up to two VMs on up to two processors (subject to the VM use rights outlined in the Product Use Rights document). A Datacenter edition license will entitle you to run an unlimited number of VMs on up to two processors.

All features that are available in the Datacenter edition are also available in the Standard edition, including high availability features like failover clustering. The only difference between the two editions will be virtualization rights.

 

Hyper-V and Azure?

Windows Server licenses are not eligible for License Mobility through Software Assurance. The license to run Windows Server in the Azure environment is included in the per-minute cost of your Windows Virtual Machine. Licenses for use of Windows Server on-premises (whether in a VHD or otherwise) must be obtained separately through volume licensing.

Can you, the customer bring their own image that has applications and middleware on top of Windows Server?

Yes, Azure will charge the Windows Server Virtual Machine rate applicable for their instance. Customers are responsible for proper licensing of any application or middleware in the image.

Do you need Windows Server CALs to connect to a Windows Server image that is running in Azure Virtual Machines?

No. Windows Server CALs are not required for accessing Windows Server running in the Azure environment because the access rights are included in the per-minute charge for the Virtual Machines. Use of Windows Server on-premises (whether in a VHD or otherwise) requires obtaining a separate license and is subject to the normal licensing requirements for use of software on-premises.

 

Windows Server 2012 R2 Editions

	Windows Server Datacenter	Windows Server Standard
Maximum number of users	based on CALs	based on CALs
Maximum SMB Connections	16,777,216	16,777,216
Maximum RRAS Connections	unlimited	unlimited
Maximum IAS Connections	2,147,483,647	2,147,483,647
Maximum number of 64-bit sockets	64	64
Maximum RAM	4 TB	4 TB
Server can join a domain	Yes	Yes
DirectAccess	Yes	Yes

Server Roles

	Windows Server Datacenter	Windows Server Standard
Active Directory Certificate Services	Yes	Yes
Active Directory Domain Services	Yes	Yes
Active Directory Federation Services	Yes	Yes
AD Lightweight Directory Services	Yes	Yes
AD Rights Management Services	Yes	Yes
Application Server	Yes	Yes
DHCP Server	Yes	Yes
DNS Server	Yes	Yes
Fax Server	Yes	Yes
File Services	Yes	Yes
Hyper-V	Yes	Yes
Network Policy and Access Services	Yes	Yes
Print and Document Services	Yes	Yes
Remote Access	Yes	Yes
Terminal Services Application Sharing	Yes	Yes
Terminal Services Gateway	Yes	Yes
Web Services (IIS)	Yes	Yes
Windows Deployment Services	Yes	Yes
Windows Essentials	Yes	Yes
Windows Media Services support (Streaming Media Services)	See Installation Options documentation	See Installation Options documentation
WINS Server	Yes	Yes

Features

	Windows Server Datacenter	Windows Server Standard
RODC – read only domain controller	Yes	Yes
Automatic Virtual Machine Activation	Both guest and host	As guest
Best Practices Analyser	Yes	Yes
BranchCache Hosted Server	Yes	Yes
BranchCache P2P Cache	Yes	Yes
Windows Control Panel	Yes	Yes
Distributed File System Replication	Yes	Yes
Data Deduplication	Yes	Yes
ISCSI target support	Yes	Yes
DirectAccess	Yes	Yes
Dynamic Memory (in virtualization)	Yes	Yes
Failover Clustering	Yes	Yes
"Hot" add/replace RAM	Yes	Yes
IPAM (IP Address Management)	Yes	Yes
Microsoft Management Console	Yes	Yes
Minimal Server Interface	Yes	Yes
Network Load Balancing	Yes	Yes
Support for Non-volatile Memory Express	Yes	Yes
Windows PowerShell	Yes	Yes
Server Core mode	Yes	Yes
Server license logging	Yes	Yes
Server Manager	Yes	Yes
SMB Direct and SMB over RDMA	Yes	Yes
Storage Management Service	Yes	Yes
Storage Spaces	Yes	Yes
Volume Activation Services	Yes	Yes
VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) integration	Yes	Yes
Windows Server Update Services	Yes	Yes

 

 

 

These are non-typical enterprise customer editions. Just here for completeness.

	Windows Server Essentials	Windows Server Foundation	Microsoft Hyper-V Server	Windows Storage Server Standard	Windows Storage Server Workgroup
Maximum number of users	25	15	unlimited	unlimited	50
Maximum SMB Connections	16777216	30	16,777,216	16,777,216	250
Maximum RRAS Connections	50	50	250	50	50
Maximum IAS Connections	50	10	50	50	50
Maximum number of 64-bit sockets	2	1	64	64	1
Maximum RAM	64 GB	32 GB	4 TB	4 TB	32 GB
Server can join a domain	For migration only	For migration only	Yes	Yes	Yes
DirectAccess	See documentation	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

Server Roles

	Windows Server Essentials	Windows Server Foundation	Microsoft Hyper-V Server	Windows Storage Server Standard	Windows Storage Server Workgroup
Active Directory Certificate Services	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Active Directory Domain Services	Required	Yes (optional)	No	No	No
Active Directory Federation Services	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
AD Lightweight Directory Services	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
AD Rights Management Services	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Application Server	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DHCP Server	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
DNS Server	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Fax Server	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
File Services	Yes	Yes	Limited features	Yes	Yes
Hyper-V	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Network Policy and Access Services	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Print and Document Services	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Remote Access	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Terminal Services Application Sharing	No	Yes	No	No	No
Terminal Services Gateway	No	See documentation	No	No	No
Web Services (IIS)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Windows Deployment Services	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Windows Essentials	Default	No	No	No	No
Windows Media Services support (Streaming Media Services)	Yes	See Installation Options documentation	No	No	No
WINS Server	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No

Features

	Windows Server Essentials	Windows Server Foundation	Microsoft Hyper-V Server	Windows Storage Server Standard	Windows Storage Server Workgroup
RODC – read only domain controller	No	No	No	No	No
Automatic Virtual Machine Activation	As guest	No	No	No	No
Best Practices Analyser	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
BranchCache Hosted Server	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
BranchCache P2P Cache	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Windows Control Panel	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Distributed File System Replication	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Data Deduplication	No	No	No	Yes	No
ISCSI target support	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
DirectAccess	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Dynamic Memory (in virtualization)	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Failover Clustering	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
"Hot" add/replace RAM	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
IPAM (IP Address Management)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Microsoft Management Console	Yes	Yes	Remote only	Yes	Yes
Minimal Server Interface	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Network Load Balancing	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Support for Non-volatile Memory Express	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windows PowerShell	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Server Core mode	No	No	Yes--the only option	after setup	after setup
Server license logging	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Server Manager	Yes	Yes	From a remote computer	Yes	Yes
SMB Direct and SMB over RDMA	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Storage Management Service	Yes	Yes	Basic file server only	Yes	Yes
Storage Spaces	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Volume Activation Services	No	No	No	No	No
VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) integration	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Windows Server Update Services	Yes	No	No	No	No