Windows Server 2016 Standard
Instant activation
The release that moved Windows Server to per-core licensing, with two operating system environments per license.
$13one-time
Instant Activation
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter
Microsoft · Windows Server
The 2016 release with unlimited virtualisation rights, and the first to include Storage Spaces Direct.
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, per core
- Edition
- Datacenter
- Delivery
- Digital key by email
- Servers
- 1 server
Pricing
$13one-time
Covers 1 device.
- Activated automatically after checkout
- Delivery: Digital key by email
- License Type: Perpetual, per core
- Payment handled by the payment provider
Prices exclude any applicable tax. Licenses are issued to the account used at checkout.
Overview
Windows Server 2016 Datacenter carries the same per-core licensing as the Standard edition and adds unlimited Windows operating system environments on the licensed hardware. It was the first release to include Storage Spaces Direct, which pools local drives across cluster nodes into shared storage without a SAN, along with Storage Replica and shielded virtual machines. Where a host runs more than a handful of virtual machines, Datacenter costs less than licensing them individually under Standard.
Standard or Datacenter?
Both editions of this release install from the same media, carry the same system requirements and are licensed the same way. The difference is how many operating system environments the license grants — and, on the Datacenter side, the virtualisation features that come with it.
Windows Server 2016 Standard
The release that moved Windows Server to per-core licensing, with two operating system environments per license.
$13one-time
OpenWindows Server 2016 Datacenter
ViewingThe 2016 release with unlimited virtualisation rights, and the first to include Storage Spaces Direct.
$13one-time
This page
Features
Unlimited OS environments
Run as many Windows virtual machines as the hardware supports, with no additional license per guest.
Storage Spaces Direct
Pool local drives across servers into a hyper-converged cluster with no external SAN.
Storage Replica
Block-level replication between servers or clusters for disaster recovery.
Shielded virtual machines
Encrypted VMs that a compromised host administrator cannot read.
License details
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, per core
- Edition
- Datacenter
- Delivery
- Digital key by email
- Servers
- 1 server
- Support
- Extended support until 12 January 2027
- OS Environments
- Unlimited
- Core Licensing
- 16 cores minimum per server
- CALs
- Client Access Licenses sold separately
- Architecture
- 64-bit
System requirements
Processor and memory
- 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor compatible with the x64 instruction set
- 512 MB RAM minimum (2 GB for Desktop Experience installations)
- 32 GB minimum disk space
Firmware and security
- UEFI 2.3.1c firmware with Secure Boot for secured-core features
- TPM 2.0 for BitLocker and virtualisation-based security
Licensing
- All physical cores in the server must be licensed
- 16-core minimum per server, 8-core minimum per processor
- Client Access Licenses are purchased separately
Installation
Windows Server 2016 is installed from official Microsoft media in Server Core or Desktop Experience mode, then activated with the supplied product key.
Frequently asked questions
At how many VMs does Datacenter become cheaper than Standard?
Standard grants two OS environments per licensed server, so covering additional virtual machines means licensing the same server repeatedly. The break-even point depends on core count, but it is typically reached in the low teens of virtual machines.
Is Windows Server 2016 still supported?
Mainstream support ended on 11 January 2022. It remains in extended support — security updates only — until 12 January 2027, after which it receives no further patches.
Do I need Client Access Licenses?
Yes. Client Access Licenses are required for users or devices accessing the server and are purchased separately from the server license.
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