Windows Server 2025 Datacenter
Instant activation
Server operating system for highly virtualised environments, permitting unlimited operating system environments on licensed hardware.
$13one-time
Instant Activation
Windows Server 2025 Standard
Microsoft · Windows Server
Server operating system licensed per physical core, permitting two operating system environments per license.
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, per core
- Edition
- Standard
- 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 2025 Standard is Microsoft's server operating system for physical and lightly virtualised environments. It is licensed per physical core, with all cores in the server required to be licensed, and each license grants rights to two operating system environments (virtual machines). Standard is the appropriate edition where virtualisation density is low; environments running many VMs on one host are usually better served by Datacenter.
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 2025 Standard
ViewingServer operating system licensed per physical core, permitting two operating system environments per license.
$13one-time
This pageWindows Server 2025 Datacenter
Server operating system for highly virtualised environments, permitting unlimited operating system environments on licensed hardware.
$13one-time
Open
Features
Two OS environments per license
Each fully licensed server permits two virtual instances, or one virtual and one physical.
Hyper-V virtualisation
Full hypervisor for running and managing virtual machines.
Active Directory Domain Services
Identity, authentication and central policy management for the network.
Windows Admin Center
Browser-based management for servers, clusters and hyper-converged infrastructure.
License details
- Platform
- Windows Server
- License Type
- Perpetual, per core
- Edition
- Standard
- Delivery
- Digital key by email
- Servers
- 1 server
- Support
- Extended support until 9 October 2035
- OS Environments
- 2 per licensed server
- 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 2025 is installed from official Microsoft media in Server Core or Desktop Experience mode, then activated with the supplied product key.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose Datacenter instead of Standard?
Datacenter is generally more economical once a host runs more than roughly a dozen virtual machines, because it permits unlimited OS environments on the licensed hardware.
How is Windows Server 2025 licensed?
Per physical core. Every core in the server must be licensed, subject to a floor of 16 cores per server and 8 per processor.
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.
Guides
Intermediate30 min
How to Install Windows Server 2025
Install Windows Server 2025 in Server Core or Desktop Experience mode and activate the license.
Compare
Windows Server Standard vs Windows Server Datacenter
Windows Server Standard vs Datacenter
How virtualisation rights and datacenter features decide which Windows Server edition is economical for your workload.
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