Per Core/CAL
Catalog row in Vendor License Metrics · Cited
- Unit
- Core
- Aliases
- Per Core/CAL (Windows Server); core-based license model; Server Licenses (per core); Licensing by Individual Virtual OSE; Windows Server 2025 Standard/Datacenter (2-packs of Core Licenses); (16-packs of Core Licenses)
- Definition
- Per Core/CAL. Customer may use the server software on a Licensed Server, provided it acquires sufficient Licenses. The number of Licenses required equals the number of Physical Cores on the Licensed Server, subject to a minimum of 8 Licenses per Physical Processor and a minimum of 16 Licenses per Server. Except as described in the Product Terms, all server software access requires CALs or External Connector Licenses. (Microsoft Product Terms — Windows Server Standard, Datacenter, and Essentials, License Model: Per Core/CAL.)
- Counting rules
- Physical-core licensing: The number of Licenses required equals the number of Physical Cores on the Licensed Server, subject to a minimum of 8 Licenses per Physical Processor and a minimum of 16 Licenses per Server. Datacenter edition permits use of the server software in any number of OSEs on the Licensed Server. Standard edition permits use of the server software in two OSEs on the Licensed Server, and permits use of one Instance of the server software in the Physical OSE on the Licensed Server (in addition to two Virtual OSEs) if the Physical OSE is used solely to host and manage the Virtual OSEs. Customer may assign additional Standard edition Licenses to the Licensed Server equal to the number required to license all Physical Cores (subject to the same minima) and use the server software in two additional OSEs. Licensing by Individual Virtual OSE (available for subscription licenses or licenses with active Software Assurance only; all CALs used to access the software under this model must also be subscription or have active SA): Customer may use the server software in one Virtual OSE; the number of Licenses required equals the number of Virtual Cores in the Virtual OSE, subject to a minimum of 8 Licenses per Virtual OSE. Access Licenses: CALs are not required for access by another Licensed Server; not required to access server software running a Web Workload or HPC Workload; not required for access in a Physical OSE used solely for hosting and managing Virtual OSEs. Users do not need Windows Server CALs when accessing solely to sync between an Active Directory infrastructure running on Customer’s Licensed Servers and Microsoft Entra ID. As a one-time alternative to assigning base CALs per user or per device, a number of base CALs may be dedicated to an Instance of the server software on a single Server (per server mode).
- Floors / minimums
- Volume (Product Terms): 8 Licenses per Physical Processor and 16 Licenses per Server (physical-core licensing); 8 Licenses per Virtual OSE (Licensing by Individual Virtual OSE). OEM/retail contractual analogue (Microsoft Software License Terms — Windows Server, last updated July 2024): Each server is required to be licensed with a minimum of 16 core licenses; each physical processor is required to be licensed with a minimum of eight core licenses. Physical cores disabled for use by an operating system (device manufacturer/installer) do not need to be licensed; that exemption does not reduce the 16/8 minima.
- Applies to products
- Windows Server
- Applies to editions
- Standard
- Datacenter
- Applies to versions
- 2025
- Related metrics
- Product category