Windows Server 2016 Datacenter – Server Licence (unlimited virtual machines)

Windows Server 2016 Datacenter is the top-of-the-range edition of Microsoft's server system. It differs from the Standard edition on two decisive points: the right to run an unlimited number of Windows virtual machines on the licensed hardware, and access to the software-defined storage and networking features. It is the edition for heavily virtualised environments, hosting providers and infrastructures that consolidate many servers onto few physical machines.

What Datacenter adds over Standard

• Unlimited virtual machines — where Standard stops at 2 Windows VMs, Datacenter imposes no limit on the licensed hardware. Beyond two or three VMs per host, the Datacenter edition generally becomes more economical.
• Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) — aggregates the local disks of several servers into highly available shared storage, without a SAN array.
• Storage Replica — synchronous or asynchronous replication of volumes between sites, for disaster recovery.
• Software-defined networking (SDN) — network controller, software load balancing and multi-tenant gateway.
• Shielded VMs — encrypted VMs, unreadable even to a hypervisor administrator.

Features common to Windows Server 2016

Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, SMB 3.1.1 file server with deduplication, IIS 10, PowerShell 5.1, Credential Guard, Just Enough Administration, unlimited Hyper-V containers and native Docker support.

Mandatory CALs

As with the Standard edition, the server licence does not cover access: each connected user or device requires a Windows Server 2016 CAL, and Remote Desktop sessions additionally require RDS CALs. CALs are access rights, not software, and RDS CALs add to the Windows Server CALs without replacing them.

Installation and activation

The key arrives by email within 24 hours at most. Install Windows Server 2016 from the official Microsoft ISO by choosing the Datacenter edition, then activate with the supplied key via Settings › Activation or the slmgr command.

End of support

Extended support for Windows Server 2016 ends in January 2027. Take this into account if the infrastructure is to live for several more years.

Buy Windows Server 2016 Datacenter

Odin Key is operated by CHKEY OÜ, an Estonian company. Official invoice included; support in English by e-mail and live chat. Key sent by email within 24h at most.