Windows Server 2019 Datacenter – Server Licence (unlimited virtual machines)

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter is the edition intended for heavily virtualised infrastructures. Two fundamental differences with the Standard edition: the right to run an unlimited number of Windows virtual machines on the licensed hardware (versus 2 in Standard), and full access to the software-defined storage and networking features. As soon as a host runs more than two or three VMs, Datacenter becomes the rational choice.

The features reserved for Datacenter

• Unlimited Hyper-V virtual machines and containers — consolidate as many virtual servers as the hardware allows, without recounting licences.
• Storage Spaces Direct — highly available shared storage built from the servers' internal disks, without a SAN array. The building block of hyperconverged clusters.
• Unlimited Storage Replica — replication of volumes between servers or between sites, synchronous or asynchronous, for disaster recovery. The Standard edition allows only one replicated volume.
• Software-defined networking (SDN) — network controller, software load balancing, distributed firewall and encrypted virtual networks.
• Shielded VMs — encrypted and attested VMs, inaccessible even to the host administrator.

The Windows Server 2019 foundation

Windows Admin Center for administration from a browser, Active Directory, SMB 3.1.1 file server with deduplication on ReFS, IIS, PowerShell, System Insights for predictive analysis, Windows and Linux containers. Extended support runs until January 2029.

Client access licences

The Datacenter licence covers the server, not access. Each connected user or device requires a Windows Server 2019 CAL, and any Remote Desktop session additionally requires an RDS CAL. CALs are not software: they are access rights, to be accounted for but not installed. RDS CALs add to the Windows Server CALs.

Installation and activation

The key arrives by email within 24 hours at most. Install Windows Server 2019 by choosing the Datacenter edition, then activate with the key via Settings › Activation or slmgr.

Buy Windows Server 2019 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 after payment.