Server license
Catalog row in Vendor License Metrics · Cited
- Unit
- Other
- Aliases
- Server license (Windows Server Essentials); Server License; Windows Server Essentials OEM server license
- Definition
- Windows Server Essentials is licensed as a Server license, not Per Core/CAL. Educational Windows Server 2025 licensing guidance: OEM only; up to 25 users / 50 devices; up to 10 cores and 1 VM on single-socket. Product Terms still describe 2019 Essentials limits; retail/OEM 2025 terms as summarized in licensing reference material: one CPU, up to 10 cores, 25 users or 50 devices, one physical plus one virtual if the physical instance only hosts/manages. Distinct from Per Core/CAL core licenses for Standard and Datacenter.
- Counting rules
- Not the CAL model — user/device caps instead of Windows Server CALs. One physical instance plus one virtual if the physical instance is used only to host/manage. The 8-per-processor / 16-per-server Per Core/CAL floors do not apply to Essentials. There is no conversion from Server license to Per Core/CAL.
- Floors / minimums
- Up to 25 users / 50 devices. Up to 10 cores and 1 VM on single-socket (GUIDE-WS25).
- Applies to products
- Windows Server
- Applies to editions
- Essentials
- Applies to versions
- 2025
- Related metrics
- Product category