Windows Server

Server operating system licensed per physical core, permitting two operating system environments per license.

Server operating system for highly virtualised environments, permitting unlimited operating system environments on licensed hardware.

The previous long-term server release, licensed per core with two operating system environments per license.

The 2022 release for highly virtualised environments, permitting unlimited operating system environments on licensed hardware.

Licensed per physical core with two operating system environments per license, and still within its extended support window.

The 2019 release with unlimited virtualisation rights, Storage Spaces Direct and shielded virtual machines.

The release that moved Windows Server to per-core licensing, with two operating system environments per license.

The 2016 release with unlimited virtualisation rights, and the first to include Storage Spaces Direct.

Licensed per processor pair with two operating system environments. Extended support ended in October 2023.

The legacy virtualisation edition with unlimited OS environments per processor pair. Extended support ended in October 2023.

The first 64-bit-only Windows Server release, licensed per server with one physical and one virtual instance. Support ended in January 2020.

The legacy virtualisation edition of 2008 R2, licensed per processor with unlimited virtual instances. Support ended in January 2020.