Introduction to Microsoft on-premises products; Read this

As businesses continue to rely on technology to enable and support their daily operations, the importance of licensing and complying with on-premises products as stated by the software producer Microsoft and the requirements cannot be understated.  Though Microsoft’s aim is to bring all clients to the Cloud, on-premises software is still used by many companies globally.     

The American software giant Microsoft offers a range of products across various categories of organizations, including client operating systems, server operating systems and client server networks. In this write-up, we will talk about these three operating systems and what you need to know.     

Microsoft client server network enables the users of computers to connect to a server(s) which allows for…     

• File sharing within the organization     
• Sharing of resources (printers)     
• Sending emails     
• Centralized management and security.       

The client server network will not be able to work in isolation unless the user adds a client operating system such as Microsoft Windows 11, and then any other required client applications.     

What is a client operating system? 

A Client Operating System (OS) refers to the software that runs on individual computing devices, such as an organization’s computer, laptops, and tablets. Microsoft’s latest client Operating System is Windows 11. The Windows 11 operating system comes in various editions that cater to different user needs. For organizations, these editions are:     

• Windows 11 Pro    
• Windows 11 Enterprise    

How is Microsoft Windows 11 licensed?     

Licensing for Windows 11 Client Operating Systems) is dependent on the specific edition of the product. For instance, Windows 11 Pro is licensed by device.    

This means to ensure compliance as an organization, it is required to obtain a license(s) for each device that is used or access the software.    

Windows 11 Enterprise on the other hand may be licensed by device or user. A client user license, also known as a user-based license or named user license, is a type of software license that allows a single individual to access and use a particular software application. These licenses are typically employed in enterprise software environments where multiple users may be required to access a given application, but the number of users is limited.      

What is a server machine?      

A server machine is a computer system designed to provide network services to other devices on the network. It is necessary for all server machines purchased to have installed on them a server operating system.      

A server OS is the software that runs on these machines and enables them to provide services such as file sharing, web hosting, email, and print services. Windows Server 2022 is the most recent release of Microsoft’s server operating system, showcasing cutting-edge features and enhancements for optimal performance and functionality.    

The two editions of Windows Server 2022 for businesses are…     

• Windows Server 2022 Standard     
• Windows Server 2022 Datacenter        

Windows Server 2022 Standard vs Windows Server 2022 Datacenter, what is the difference?     

While they share many similarities, there are some notable differences that your organization should be aware of before making a decision.     

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter     

• Provides unlimited virtualization rights.     
• Comes equipped with Storage Spaces.     
• Datacenter edition provides enhanced security features such as encryption.     
• Datacenter edition is more expensive.     

Windows Server 2022 Standard     

• Allows for up to two virtual instances per physical machine     
• Does not have the storage solution feature included.     
• Does not provide enhanced security (basic security features).      
• Less expensive compared to Windows Server 2022 Datacenter    
  

How Windows Server 2022 is licensed    

You are required to license Windows Server 2022 Standard and Windows Server 2022 Database through the…      

• Per Core      
• CAL licensing model      

Under the Per Core licensing model, the licensing fee or cost for this model is determined by the number of server cores and the number of users or devices that can access the server. It is important to note that each physical or virtual core of a server will require a separate license. The number of licenses needed will depend on the total number of cores in the server. Furthermore, it is also necessary to obtain Client Access Licenses (CALs) for each user or device accessing the server.    

Adequately licensing your server will mean the purchasing of Core licenses for each physical core in the server. As a minimum requirement, 8 Core licenses per processor and 16 Core licenses per server should be met.    

That’s not all, you will need to acquire Windows Server 2022 Client Access Licenses (CALs) for either users or devices. These CALs grant clients the ability to access the services of any or all licensed servers.      

Purchasing CALs can be in two forms: User CALs and Device CALs. User CALs are allocated to specific users, enabling them to access the server from any device they use. On the other hand, Device CALs are given to specific devices, allowing any user of that device to access the server.     

What are virtualized servers in Microsoft Windows Server?     

Virtualized servers, on the other hand, refer to the use of software to create multiple virtual servers on a single physical server machine. This approach enables businesses to optimize their hardware and reduce costs in managing multiple server machines. Hyper-V is a hypervisor technology from Microsoft that allows businesses to create and manage virtual machines on their server machines.     

When it comes to licensing virtual servers, there are a variety of factors to consider. However, it is important to understand that a physical server is standalone server that exists as a physical device, while virtual servers are created using software that enables the creation of more than one virtual machine on a single physical machine.    

What you need to know about Microsoft SQL Server 2022    

The latest version of Microsoft’s relational database management system is Microsoft SQL Server 2022. It provides a comprehensive suite of features, tools, and functionalities to manage large sets of data and meet enterprise-level data processing requirements.      

Microsoft SQL Server 2022 comes with enhanced performance and scalability, which allows users to handle bigger and more complex data sets at faster processing speeds. Microsoft SQL is known as the most complex licensing products in the Microsoft product portfolio. It is quite easy to make mistakes when purchasing and licensing SQL server products.  

The complexity starts with how some SQLs are licensed. You have editions of SQL 2022 that are licensed under the Server and the CAL Microsoft licensing model, while others are licensed based on the number of processor cores. For more information on licensing SQL Server 2022, please refer to the SQL Server Microsoft website. If you still don’t get it. Contact the SQL experts at Q-Advise     

What are the two editions of SQL 2022 server?    

Microsoft SQL Server 2022 comes in Standard and Enterprise Edition. You purchase any of them after you are sure it will meet your needs, or it is the right fit to solve your challenges. Overall, make sure your IT roadmap accommodates your adoption of any of the editions smoothly.    

Licensing Microsoft SQL Server 2022 is either by: 

• Per Core: Under the Per Core model, customers have the options to license based on the full physical core count of their physical server or on the virtual cores allocated to their virtual machine. 
• SERVER + CAL: A server license is required for each server that runs SQL Server software. Each user or device that accesses a licensed SQL Server must have a SQL Server Client Access License (CAL) that matches or is a newer version of the SQL Server being used. 

What is your next move on saving or optimization? 

Deciding as to which of the Microsoft on-premises products to settle on should be done with checks to know if they fit into your roadmap short to long term. Also consider if your financial projections can accommodate a purchase and can still keep operations going.     

Speak to our team of Microsoft experts. Let us help you to optimize and start saving on your Microsoft products. 

Register for our newsletter.