Windows Server 2016 | Retail version - Pricing & Licensing

Windows Server 2016: is the eighth release of the Windows Server operating system developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was developed concurrently with Windows 10 and is the successor to Windows Server 2012 R2. The first early preview version (Technical Preview) became available on October 1, 2014 together with the first technical preview of System Center. Windows Server 2016 was released on September 26, 2016 at Microsoft's Ignite conference^[1] and broadly released for retail sale on October 12, 2016. It has three successors: Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, and the Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel, which excludes the graphical user interface and many older components.

Windows Server 2016 product is streamlined and simple, making it easy for customers to choose the edition that is right for their needs. It easy for customers to transition to cloud computing when they are ready. It delivers powerful new layers of security along with Azure-inspired innovation for the applications and infrastructure that power business. Windows Server 2016 has a variety of new features, including:

• Active Directory Federation Services: It is possible to configure AD FS to authenticate users stored in non-AD directories, such as X.500 compliant Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directories and SQL databases.

• Windows Defender: Windows Server Antimalware is installed and enabled by default without the GUI, which is an installable Windows feature.

• Remote Desktop Services: Support for OpenGL 4.4 and OpenCL 1.1, performance and stability improvements; MultiPoint Services role (see Windows MultiPoint Server)

• Storage Services: Central Storage QoS Policies; Storage Replicas (storage-agnostic, block-level, volume-based, synchronous and asynchronous replication using SMB3 between servers for disaster recovery). Storage Replica replicates blocks instead of files; files can be in use. It's not multi-master, not one-to-many and not transitive. It periodically replicates snapshots, and the replication direction can be changed.

• Failover Clustering: Cluster operating system rolling upgrade, Storage Replicas

• Web Application Proxy: Pre-authentication for HTTP Basic application publishing, wildcard domain publishing of applications, HTTP to HTTPS redirection, Propagation of client IP address to backend applications

• IIS 10: Support for HTTP/2

• Windows PowerShell 5.1

• Windows Server Containers

Windows Server 2016 has three primary editions based on organization size as well as virtualization and datacenter requirements

Datacenter Edition: is ideal for highly virtualized and software-defined datacenter environments. When all physical cores on the server are licensed, Datacenter edition provides rights to use unlimited operating system environments (OSEs) or Hyper-V containers and unlimited containers on the licensed server.

Standard Edition: is ideal for customers with low density or non-virtualized environments. When all physical cores on the server are licensed, Standard edition provides rights to use two Operating System Environments (OSEs) or Hyper-V containers and unlimited containers on the licensed server.

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. Each server license provides rights to use one running instance of the server software in either a physical OSE or virtual OSE on the licensed server.

Windows Server 2016 Standard & Datacenter Licensing overview

Windows Server 2016: the number of core licenses required equals the number of physical cores on the licensed server, subject to a minimum of 8 core licenses per physical processor and a minimum of 16 core licenses per server. Core licenses are sold in 2-packs and 16-packs. 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 Remote Desktop Services 2016 CAL.

• All physical cores on the server must be licensed, subject to a minimum of 8 core licenses per physical processor and a minimum of 16 core licenses per server.

• Essentials edition server is for either one or two processor servers.

• Standard edition permits use of one running 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.

• Essentials edition permits use of one running instance of the server software in the physical OSE on the licensed server (in addition to one virtual OSE), if the physical OSE is used solely to host and manage the virtual OSE.

• If you want to convert your Windows Server 2016 Evaluation version to Retail and Licensed(activated) version for Work, Business or Production (you will need a valid Retail License, if not purchased from us) Server, please check this link: How to Convert Evaluation to Retail version?

Recommended System Requirements

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.