Windows Server 2019 Standard 24 cores licence on a 20 core server

Question

Hi all,

On a project we are using servers with 20 cores (two Xeon's with 10 cores). My procurement has a difficulty of finding a licence with 20 cores. Would it make me a problem if i buy 24 core licence, install it on a server and activate only 20 licences ?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

You can purchase a 24-core license for a server with 20 cores, as licensing typically allows you to license more cores than you have physically installed. However, you must ensure that you comply with the licensing terms, which generally require you to activate licenses for all physical cores present. In your case, you would be able to activate only 20 out of the 24 cores, but it's important to check the specific licensing agreement to ensure compliance and avoid any potential issues.

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References:

• License provisioning guidelines for Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2012
• Lifecycle FAQ - Extended Security Updates