Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 Licensing Update

With the upcoming launch of Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016, for servers the licensing of Datacenter and Standard Edition will move from processor licensing to physical core licensing.  For client computers, per user or per device based Windows Server CALs and System Center CMLs will continue to be a requirement.

Core based licensing: Windows Server & System Center 2016 Standard and Datacenter

• All physical cores in the server must be licensed. Servers are licensed based on the number of processor cores in the physical server.  Windows Server CALs and System Center CMLs are still required for client computers/users.
• A minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.
• A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor.
• Core licenses will be sold in packs of two.
• Eight 2-core packs will be the minimum required to license each physical server.  The 2-core pack for each edition is one-eighth the price of a 2-processor license for corresponding Windows Server 2012 R2 editions.
• Datacenter Edition provides rights to unlimited virtual OSEs when all physical cores on a server are licensed.
• Standard Edition provides rights for up to two OSEs or Hyper-V containers when all physical cores in the server are licensed. For every two additional VMs, all the cores in the server must be licensed again.