Standard and Datacenter in a direct comparison
| Aspect | Windows Server Standard | Windows Server Datacenter |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual instances per license | Two | Unlimited |
| Licensing model | Core-based | Core-based |
| CAL requirement | Yes | Yes |
| Features for software-defined data centers | No | Yes |
| Economical for | A small number of virtual machines | High VM density per host |
When Datacenter pays off
The decisive point is purely a matter of arithmetic. With Standard, the core licensing can be purchased repeatedly to cover additional virtual instances, two at a time per purchase. Datacenter covers an unlimited number of instances with a single licensing.
As soon as the number of virtual machines per host becomes so high that the repeated Standard licensing would cost more than a single Datacenter license, Datacenter is the more economical choice. Exactly where this tipping point lies depends on the hardware and current prices. We calculate it for your specific environment.