Server Application Virtualization Licensing

The accompanying chart summarizes virtualization-related license rights for Microsoft server applications. Server application licensing is based primarily on how the server is licensed-per server with Client Access Licenses (CALs) required, per processor, or per server. It is not possible to list all of the relevant applications in this table; instead, the chart shows applications that exemplify common licensing options.

Server Application (Example)	License Model	Application Licenses per VM	Application Licenses per Processor
Exchange, SharePoint	Server/ CAL	1 per running instance	NA
SQL Server	Server/CAL	1 per VM, multiple running instances per VM permitted	NA
SQL Server	Per processor	1 per processor or portion of processor exposed by VM, multiple running instances permitted	1 per processor used by host OS, multiple running instances permitted
BizTalk, Host Integration Server	Per processor

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Updated: July 9, 2020 (October 6, 2008)

Charts & Illustrations

Server Application Virtualization Licensing

by
Michael Cherry

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

The accompanying chart summarizes virtualization-related license rights for Microsoft server applications. Server application licensing is based primarily on how the server is licensed—per server with Client Access Licenses (CALs) required, per processor, or per server. Enterprise editions of some applications have additional virtualization entitlements. It is not possible to list all the relevant applications in this table; instead, the chart shows applications that exemplify common licensing options.

Server Application (Example)	License Model	Application Licenses per VM	Enterprise Edition Exceptions
Exchange, SharePoint	Server/CAL	1 server license per application instance running in the VM	NA
SQL Server	Server/CAL	1 server license per VM, multiple running instances per VM permitted	1 server license per server, unlimited instances in physical and virtual environments
SQL Server	Per processor	1 processor license

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