Windows Server 2019 Standard – Server Licence

Windows Server 2019 Standard is the go-to server system for SMEs. It covers the full set of infrastructure roles — Active Directory, files, DNS, DHCP, IIS, Hyper-V — and gives the right to run 2 Windows virtual machines on the licensed hardware, in addition to the host instance reserved for the hypervisor. Beyond this cap, you must acquire additional licences or move to the Datacenter edition, which allows an unlimited number of VMs.

Key features

• Windows Admin Center — a modern web administration console, introduced with this generation: management of servers, VMs, storage and certificates from a browser.
• Active Directory and group policies — enterprise directory, centralised authentication, fine-grained management of machines.
• Hyper-V — built-in virtualisation, with the right to use 2 Windows VMs under this licence.
• File server — SMB 3.1.1, deduplication (now supported on ReFS), storage spaces, storage replication limited to one volume.
• Windows and Linux containers — lightweight base images and support for Linux containers under Hyper-V.
• Enhanced security — Windows Defender ATP Exploit Guard, improved Shielded VMs, application control and encryption of virtual networks.
• System Insights — local predictive analysis of disk, CPU and network capacity.

Don't forget the CALs

The server licence does not cover access. Each user or device that connects must have a Windows Server 2019 CAL. A CAL is a legal right, not software: nothing installs on the client side. For Remote Desktop sessions, RDS CALs are required in addition to the Windows Server CALs — they do not replace them.

Installation and activation

You receive the key by email within 24 hours at most. Install Windows Server 2019 from the Microsoft ISO, then activate in Settings › Activation or with the slmgr /ipk command.

System requirements

64-bit 1.4 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM minimum (2 GB with a graphical interface), 32 GB of disk, Gigabit network card. Extended support ensured until January 2029.

Buy Windows Server 2019 Standard

Odin Key is operated by CHKEY OÜ, an Estonian company. Official invoice, support in English by email and live chat. Key sent by email within 24h.