[SOLVED] Datacenter setup and licensing - Windows Server - What advantages do you get from our course help online services?
Looking for:
Windows server 2016 datacenter breakeven free. Windows Server 2016 Licensing: Calculating Your License Need |
Windows server 2016 datacenter breakeven free
- Windows server 2016 datacenter breakeven free
- Windows Server Licensing Note, Pica Communications
What he presumably means, is that he has host1 and host2 in a 2-node cluster that share storage by some means assuming iSCSI because you mentioned that. Where is the shared storage located? Is it on a SAN? It could also mean he has host1 and host2 set up to BE the shared storage That said, they should be in the main domain. If you don't have one, why not? The domain controllers can be VMs on the hosts in the cluster. It is cheaper to add RAM to a host than to add hosts once licensing costs are taken into account.
It seems apparent that he is not talking about real clustering - one host fails, those VMs are offline until he moves the VHDs are moved.
We are just getting what you're picking up from the conversation - if we take what the OP is saying at face value, it definitely doesn't seem like he knows what he's doing. The OP told us earlier in the thread that his tech installed two domain controllers - that's why I wrote up my list above of hosts as I did. So yes, it appears that the tech installed two Domain Controllers using Windows DataCenter licenses - sigh. This doesn't require datacenter licensing.
The tech has incorrectly informed the OP that the 'cluster' needs to be in it's own domain, not part of the production Active Directory domain. This is totally wrong. The OP indicated that his tech made a new dedicated Active Directory domain just for this 'cluster'. I agree with Kevin, there was, is NO reason to make a new domain for this. Kevin is also correct that RAM and storage added to current hosts are often able to extend current hardware.
As mentioned in several of my other posts already,, there is zero need for a new domain just for this. You're right, this isn't a cluster in the form of auto failover or HA. It sounds like there is just shared storage - or at least likely shared storage.
Hyper-V never requires licensing - it's free, completely and utterly. You download the installer from the Microsoft Trial website but it's not a trial, requires no key and never expires , then install on the hardware. When you purchase Windows Server standard, it includes licensing for 16 cores.
If you have a 16 core or fewer server, that's all you need. If you have an 18 core or more server, you will need to purchase 2 core add-on packs for every 2 cores over This standard license grants you the rights to have two VMs on a single server. Windows Server DataCenter license includes licensing for 16 cores on a single server. Like standard, if you have more than 16 cores, you need to purchase 2 core add-on packs. Unlike standard where you are limited to two VMs per license, you get unlimited Windows VMs per license.
Now, in your case, it appears that perhaps your vendor instead of selling you 6 Windows Server DataCenter licenses, they sold you only 2 core add-ons. But it does appear they sold you enough to cover all 6 servers worth of cores, so you are likely covered here. Hyper-V is it's own system, it's not part of windows. The fact that you can install it as a role in Windows brings confusion to this point.
There is no functionality difference. If Hyper-V is installed directly on Hosts , that is exactly what you want. Dashrender seems to have the closest understanding to the layout or information I was provided and given host 1 and 2 are domain controllers "DC" a primary and secondary at no point in this chain have I referred to Datacenter as anything other then Datacenter in order to prevent as much confusion as possible. You are correct he is telling me what he is doing, but though technical terms are being used, they make no since and raise enough flags for me to reach out here.
I have never setup a cluster myself just book smarts on how they are supposed to function and configured which is the cause for the flags. So I am looking for validation from other people AKA you among the spiceworld to gain insight as to how this might look if correctly done to determine if it is something I can take on myself.
We have established that when he told me hyper-v core he most likely meant hyper-v server so we can move past that. Additionally he has setup 2 domain controllers that so far Dash has me leaning to being un-needed. Though Tim has provided at least one plausible reason as to why he has setup the domain controllers. So what I am looking for after all the useful information provided so far is, does it at all sound like my tech has a real handle on this project answer so far leans towards no.
That being the case is this something that I can attempt to move forward using documentation and spicehead help to rebuild correctly leaning towards maybe , or most likely do I searching for a consultant. Under all of that is are the total core licenses we have for server datacenter enough to cover all our physical servers answer seems to be yes.
But do you really even need this many hosts? This would not reduce the amount of licenses you need still 12 to 13 total, but could reduce power consumption noticeably, and give you some spare parts.
Only testing will tell. OK now that that is out of the way, You could purchase Datacenter licenses for the needed servers. This gives you the ability to move VMs around at will. But considering your current non HA setup, you can likely skip this. Also from a numbers perspective, DataCenter on it's own is more expensive than multiple Windows Server Standard licenses if you need less than 13 VMs per server.
No my intent was to never give a plausible reason for AD DCs. I was trying to figure out what was going on. As far as I can tell, they are completely unneeded. I've seen no evidence of any clusters cluster meaning HA hyper-v cluster "Microsoft Failover cluster" using at least 2 nodes in the cluster. I still don't know if that's what is being done or not.
I think I got lost in this mess. Actually we have not established that. We've established what he should be using, but we don't know because we just heard about "Hyper-V Core". My guess is the Tech claimed MS failover clusters, but then never got it to work. There is no product called Hyper-V. Most of additional features of Windows Server Datacenter don't matter to most users, but the difference is not just the virtualization rights.
This will put your mind at ease if the all clear comes back and will give you definite questions to ask if not. You may not be technical nout wrong with that but you need to put your manager hat on at a jaunty angle, but firmly, and get to the bottom of matters.
I have never setup a cluster myself and outside of seeing working labs at other locations, vendors, and even professional friends houses so I fully admit this is most likely over my head abit but i can reach up when the need calls for it.
I only have book and web based knowledge about what one is supposed to look like and how it is supposed to function and what he is telling me and setting up is no where close I thank you all for the validation of that provided threw-out this post , but I also will admit that generally the practical design, setup and configuration lets call it standards established by that documentation sometimes deviates. Since I am sure there are multiple ways to skin this cat.
So that is what fueled this post my ignorance in the best practices when it comes to setting up a cluster of servers and that underlying feeling that the information he has been feeding me is BS and not anything near accurate to the original upgrade proposal. Which leaves me trying to determine if this is something within reach of my experience with the assistance of spiceheads and web resources that I can step up and correct, or do I call in big guns and hope I can learn along the way.
This topic has been locked by an administrator and is no longer open for commenting. To continue this discussion, please ask a new question. We have a customer that sends us a lot of emails and a majority of the time, the emails are originating from Brazil and thus quarantined as we block all emails originating outside of the US. He uses a Hotmail account and I was wondering if he has the opti It's been a fun morning.
My current computer desk is nothing more than wire shelving with a wooden top, creating a completely functional desk. Your daily dose of tech news, in brief. Each year on August 10th, people celebrate On Lazy Day, a holiday that permits us to relax and kick back. Did you know that being lazy from time to time can actually be good for you? Of course, that can be ea What are the 3 things that you bring to the event every year?
Share your must-haves for SpiceWorld! Online Events. Login Join. Windows Server. First question or post to spiceworks ever so please bare with me. Since Datacenter is the version that covers licensing for unlimited vms The task is to setup a cluster of 6 servers with datacenter as the virtual hosts in a cluster so that any future vms wouldn't require licensing this idea was sold to me at the beginning of the project and we purchased enough core licensing to cover said servers 96 total.
Not sure I am adding this to the right group so may have to repost. Spice 5 Reply Shaun wrote: So what I am looking for after all the useful information provided so far is, does it at all sound like my tech has a real handle on this project answer so far leans towards no.
A consultant would be another option. Once you know about the storage, let us know. Scott Alan Miller. Shaun wrote: First question or post to spiceworks ever so please bare with me. Spice 1 flag Report. Shaun wrote: I have just checked in with my tech and found that he has setup 2 servers thus far with data center as DC for the cluster I have never setup a cluster so not sure this is needed so that the first question.
Spice 2 flag Report. Verify your account to enable IT peers to see that you are a professional. Shaun wrote: In addition he has setup 4 hyper-v core nodes and migrated our vms over to them. Shaun wrote: he has setup 4 hyper-v core nodes Watch your terminology as it brings confusion - Hyper-V Server is the free hypervisor-only product.
Shaun wrote: The task is to setup a cluster of 6 servers with datacenter as the virtual hosts in a cluster so that any future vms wouldn't require licensing this idea was sold to me at the beginning of the project and we purchased enough core licensing to cover said servers 96 total.
License wise, again, assuming you only have 16 core machines, you look covered. Just curious, you're talking about a cluster - in what way is this a cluster? Do you have shared storage? OP Shaun The original plan was to get licensing for are physical servers so we wouldn't have to mess with licensing ever again for are VM's addition I have never setup a cluster and my experience with hyper-v has always been within server OS, there is iscsi storage that the VM's share, though I have been here a year and have no solid answer as to how much is available.
Hyper-V is free. It is a hypervisor. It doesn't have versions. Shaun wrote: Sorry for the confusion the original idea pitched to me was to have a bed of physical servers clustered together using server datacenter licenses, that would host unlimited VM's on top of them license free. The original plan was to get licensing for are physical servers so we wouldn't have to mess with licensing ever again for are VM's huh - he installed to Domain Controllers on bare metal?
I'd say bring in a consultant. Shaun wrote: Sorry for the confusion the original idea pitched to me was to have a bed of physical servers clustered together using server datacenter licenses , that would host unlimited VM's on top of them license free. The original plan was to get licensing for are physical servers so we wouldn't have to mess with licensing ever again for are VM's Lots here to cover : First, datacenter licensing isn't related to clustering.
We should step back, why do you have so many hosts? Six is enormous. The third method, which may be the most optimal, is to setup AD activation. It appears that you have: host 1 - domain controller - needs 1 Windows standard license host 2 - domain controller - needs 1 Windows standard license host 3 - Hyper-V server - needs DataCenter license for the number of cores in host host 4 - Hyper-V server - needs DataCenter license for the number of cores in host host 5 - Hyper-V server - needs DataCenter license for the number of cores in host host 6 - Hyper-V server - needs DataCenter license for the number of cores in host Again that is only for what you have listed.
Obsolesce This person is a verified professional. How many virtual machines do you have, and what are the resource requirements of the top 5? Are you SURE you need 6??? One host equals huge single point of failure. That single host is much more likely to stay running than 2 or more servers. Also, there are other things in place such as backups, replication, etc.
Please compare the risk factor of the alternative for us. Dashrender wrote: I know Scott said this already, but clustering is not a license function of Windows Server DataCenter edition. Shaun wrote: Dashrender wrote: I know Scott said this already, but clustering is not a license function of Windows Server DataCenter edition.
So it makes it really hard for us to know what's going on. It's hard to know by how you are describing things. There is definitely a lack of understanding on both sides, as well as lack of communication. We definitely need a ton of clarification. Wow - that seems insane.. Shaun wrote: This is a correct layout of what we currently have, host 1 and 2 he has setup as DC for the cluster because he states they need to be in there own domain.
Do you need the advanced features of Datacenter? Do you need to run 13 or more Windows Server VMs on this host? For the Datacenter version , you get an unlimited number of VMs so the equation is simple:.
For the Standard version , you have to add an extra equation because of the limited number of VMs it provides. If you move VMs around your server farm, you have to be careful here: remember that you need to license the server for the highest number of VMs that will ever be running on it. Step 3: Divide the final number by two to determine how many two-packs to purchase. Since Microsoft sells core licenses of Windows Server in packs of two, you have to cut your total in half to make sure your reseller is quoting the right amount.
In other words, if you need 16 core licenses, Mirazon will send you a quote for eight two-packs. If you need 20 core licenses, your quote will be for 10 two-packs. When learning a new skill, talking about it can only get you so far. We have tools we can use to help you get to the bottom line. For more information on Windows Server licensing, you can check out these related posts on the Mirazon blog:. Mirazon is a company of trusted IT advisors for organizations large and small. Founded in in Louisville, Kentucky, Mirazon focused on providing world-class technology consulting to local businesses.
Decades later, we specialize in Microsoft, Wi-Fi, networking, cloud computing, and desktop support. While we hang our hats in Louisville, we travel the world to serve our clients from small, local businesses all the way up to Fortune companies. Project Consulting.
Comments
Post a Comment