I realize that with Windows Server 2012 Standard, I need 2 server licenses to run a Hyper-V host with 4 virtual machines (you get 2 VMs per license). 

I am thinking about purchasing another identical physical server and configuring it as a Hyper-V Replica Server. 

If I want to replicate my existing host and VMs to another Hyper-V Replica server, do I need any additional licensing?  I wasn't sure since this server would only be used if my primary Host would happed to go down.

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

yes, you need to license your seconde Server for Replica with 2 Windows Server licenses Standard 2012 R2 Editions.

thanks

diramoh

Virtual machines do not have licenses.  Licenses are assigned to the physical hosts.  Licenses assigned to the physical hosts grant rights to two (Standard for two physical CPUs) or unlimited (Datacenter for two physical CPUs) virtual operating system environments running Windows Server.

www.microsoft.com/licensing

Thanks Tim,

I've looked over the Microsoft licensing page but I'm still not 100% clear on this.  If I have a Host running 4 virtual machines, can I purchase (2) licenses and be compliant? Or would I have to purchase the Datacenter edition?

yes, virtual machines do not have licenses but the second Server for replica needs to have assigend licenses to receive the 4 VMs from the active Server.

thanks

diramoh

Thanks Tim,

I've looked over the Microsoft licensing page but I'm still not 100% clear on this.  If I have a Host running 4 virtual machines, can I purchase (2) licenses and be compliant? Or would I have to purchase the Datacenter ed

Hi,

on the Microsoft document, we have the following Details:

Two common scenarios for higher availability and dynamic datacenters involve:

•     Running the same workload simultaneously on two servers, or Only run the workload during maintenance.
•        Running a workload on a primary server and periodically moving it to a second server due to a failure, load balancing, patching, or planned downtime.

In both scenarios, regardless of whether the workloads are running in physical or virtual OSEs, each server must have the appropriate number of licenses assigned to it prior to the workload running on it. This holds true regardless of whether you plan the workload to:

• Always run on a single server.
• Run in parallel on the server as a backup when the primary server fails.
•  Run the workload if the primary server is down.
•  Load balance when the primary server has high use.

thanks

diramoh

• Marked as answer by TacticalN8 Thursday, June 26, 2014 2:37 PM

I'd like to get clarification on this answer since I too am working on the same scenario, and I find conflicting information:

Referring to the Software Assurance Benefits Chart, if I have SA, and based on the verbiage under Back-up for Disaster Recovery, it implies that the physical server designated for DR only, CAN (and pretty much must) be running in order to accept replicas.

SO, in this scenario, can I "assume", if I have 2 physical servers, a production and a DR box, then I should only need 1 Standard license w/SA for every 2 running guest VMs.

E.g. The same license(s) can be assigned to both the Production and DR physical servers, and the DR physical servers OS (Hyper-V role) will be running as long as the DR server has no running guest VMs.  Is this correct?

• Edited by Rey Ahtbor 16 minutes ago