Elevate your Business Productivity with Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2019 Standard and Datacenter editions follow core-based licensing models. The licensing applies to the number of server cores rather than the number of processors. Windows Server 2016 version introduces the core-based license. And the earlier version follows the processor-based. The 2016 Standard and Datacenter edition follows a uniform licensing across multi-cloud environments.

Microsoft offers two types of licensing options: Server+CAL and Core-based licensing. It is available on how customers generally need specific workloads. The Server+CAL licensing model gives users and devices licenses. Customers who do not count users go for a core-based licensing model. It is highly advisable for users who need premium database capabilities.

Core-based licensing

The Windows Server 2019 price differs for Core-based and Cal-based licenses. What is the difference between server Cal and per-core license, if you ask? The core-based licensing is for an organization to exhaust premium database capabilities. It is the only option for them if they are deployed users outside their company's network. So, core licenses do not limit to finite users but provide flexibility. But, the Server + CAL licenses are a must to provide access for every user/device within the company scope. It demands a new CAL for every new user/device, thus a costly affair. The benefits of a core license include:

1. Core-based licensing gives customers a more precise measure of computing power.
2. The Per Core model enables unlimited access to users or devices.
3. It enables multi-cloud environments, improves workload portability, and helps remove friction.
4. It is easier for customers to migrate to the cloud at their own pace.

The Per Core licensing allows each server to run SQL Server 2019. It assigns an appropriate number of Windows 2019 SQL Server core licenses. Here, core licenses depend on whether customers license the physical server or individual virtual OSEs.

You need not get extra CALs to access the SQL Server software with the Per Core model.

You can get the per-core license in two ways:

1. By Physical Core on a Server
2. By Individual Virtual OSE

Licensing by Physical Core on a Server

All physical cores must be licensed when running software in a physical OSE. Software partitioning does not reduce the number of core licenses. When licensing individual VMs, four core licenses are needed per physical processor. Unlike the Server+CAL licensing model, each Core model assists an unlimited number of users/ devices. It saves money as customers do not need to purchase extra client access licenses (CALs).

Licensing by Individual Virtual OSE

Like the Per Core licensing model in physical OSEs, all virtual cores with virtual OSEs must be licensed. Plus, you must buy a core license for each v-core allocated to the virtual OSE. Further, it is subject to a four-core license minimum per virtual OSE. For licensing purposes, v-core maps to a hardware thread.

Core/CAL licensing model

The Per Core/CAL license for Server 2019 demands the customer to license all the physical cores on the server. Here, the licensed server must divide at least Windows Server 2019 16 core licenses. And the license is also subject to eight-core for each physical processor.