Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2019 Licensing model

The Windows Server 2019 licensing model includes both Cores + Client Access Licenses (CALs). Each user and/or device accessing a licensed Windows Server Standard, Datacenter or Multipoint edition requires a Windows Server CAL or a Windows Server and a Remote Desktop Services (RDS) CAL. A Windows Server CAL gives a user or device the right to access any edition of Windows Server of the same or earlier version. Each Window Server CAL allows access to multiple licenses of Windows Server. After the General Availability of Windows Server 2019, the business model for Standard and Datacenter editions will transition from processor-based to core based licensing. Core-based licensing provides a more consistent licensing metric across multi-cloud environments, improves workload portability for Windows Server through benefits like Azure Hybrid Use Benefit, and helps remove friction across different licensing models.

Windows Server 2019: available on three editions, based on an organization size, virtualization and datacenter requirements:

• Datacenter edition is ideal for highly virtualized and software-defined datacenter environments.

• Standard edition is ideal for customers with low density or non-virtualized environments.

• Essentials edition is a cloud-connected first server, ideal for small businesses with up to 25 users and 50 devices. Essentials is a good option for customers currently using the Foundation edition, which is not available with Windows Server 2019.

(****) Our Standard edition included 10 user cals and Datacenter edition included 25 user cals integrated with the License. No cal required for Essentials edition but it's limited by 25 user and 50 device only.

system requirements

The following are estimated system requirements Windows Server 2019. If your computer has less than the "minimum" requirements, you will not be able to install this product correctly. Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and the applications and features you install. Unless otherwise specified, these minimum system requirements apply to all installation options (Server Core, Server with Desktop Experience, and Nano Server) and both Standard and Datacenter editions.

Processor requirements:

• A minimum of 1.4 GHz 64-bit EMT64 or AMD64 processor. Quad Core Recommended for production systems.

• Support for security features like NX Bit and DEP (Data Execution Prevention)

• The processor should support CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, and PrefetchWNeeds

• Needs to Support EPT or NPT (Second Level Address Translation)

Disk Space:

For Core installation, a minimum Disk Space of 32 GB is required. Additional 4 GB is necessary for GUI installation.

Disk Space Capacity Planning:

Microsoft Support recommends the following:

• 3 times the RAM size limited up to 32 GB. Which means 96 GB (32×3 = 96 GB)

• Additional disk space of 10-12 GB for additional roles and features installed based on server roles. For 32 GB Systems with GUI (96 + 12 = 108 GB)

• Additional 10 GB is required for Windows Updates. So, 108 GB +10 GB = 118 GB for 32 GB Systems.

• 10 GB extra space for miscellaneous files and logs (Perfmon, Server Trace, etc.) (128 GB for 32 GB Systems)

• Any Disk Space requirements for applications that are installed on the OS partition are additional. For example SQL, Exchange, SharePoint MS-CRM, etc.

Disk Controller:

• Needs to be a PCI Express Compliant Disk Controller.

• ATA/PATA/IDE/EIDE are not supported for either boot, page, or data.

RAM (Random Access memory) Requirements:

• 512 MB ECC supported Memory Modules

• 800 MB for VM Installations, post-installation, reduce RAM to 512 MB.

Optional System Requirements Features:

• Support of UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware with support for secure boot

• Trusted Platform Module

• Graphics Accelerator device and monitor, capable of SVGA (1024 x 768) minimum. 1080 p monitors or higher-resolution recommended.

• Input devices such as a Keyboard and Microsoft® mouse (or other compatible pointing devices)

• Internet access to download Windows Updates where the tenant is managing the updates.

Network Requirements:

• Minimum a Gigabit Ethernet adapter with 1 Gbps throughput.

• Needs to be PCI Express Compliant hardware.

• Support for Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE). As you may know, Wireless Devices cannot be used to boot from the network.

How to Convert: Windows Server 2019 Evaluation version to OEM/Retail/Volume version (Licensed & Legal for Business)?

Not applicable and no issue on the activation for brand new server installation, you may need this help if you are using a evaluation version of Windows Server 2019.

You can freely convert between Windows Server Evaluation version to Retail-licensed version, Volume-licensed version, or an OEM version. The edition remains the same during this conversion. If you are starting with an evaluation version, convert it to the retail version first, and then you can inter-convert as described. To do this, from an elevated command prompt, run: slmgr /ipk <key>

Where <key> is the appropriate volume, retail, or OEM product/license key.

Open PowerShell/Command Prompt as Administrator and write and enter: slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX - If this method giving error, please use the following command:

Type following command to upgrade evaluation edition to Standard or Datacenter edition.

Standard Edition: DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

Datacenter Edition: DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /AcceptEula

Click Y and restart the server, it's done and activated. Please note: This method only work with Retail License for upgrading from Evaluation to Retail.