WINDOWS
Office
Windows Server
Antivirus
Utilities
Professional Software
PACKS
License Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Datacenter
Perpetual Windows Server 2025 Datacenter licence for 24 cores, with unlimited Hyper-V virtual machines: the edition for virtualisation-intensive environments. Includes Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded VMs, software-defined networking and native hot-patching, with an official key, instant delivery and security support until 2035.
24 cores · unlimited VMs Hot-patching, no reboots Perpetual licence Audit-ready invoice
Will users connect via Remote Desktop? Each one needs its own RDS licence: add the RDS CALs for 50 users.
Rated 9.8/10 on eKomi (Gold seal) · Spanish company · Genuine, legally resold licence · Lifetime guarantee.
41916
What does this licence include?
Windows Server 2025 Datacenter is the most comprehensive edition of Microsoft’s server operating system, designed for heavy virtualisation environments, data centres and hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI). This licence covers 24 physical cores and allows unlimited Hyper-V virtual machines on the same host. It includes every Standard feature plus Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded VMs, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and native hot-patching.
✔ Extended support until October 2035 — Microsoft provides security updates for 10 years from release. Mainstream support runs until October 2030.
Datacenter-exclusive features
Windows Server 2025 Datacenter includes every Standard feature (hot-patching, AD DS 2025, NVMe over Fabrics, SMB over QUIC) plus these exclusive capabilities:
| Feature | What it does | Practical benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Hyper-V VMs | No limit on the number of virtual machines per host | Consolidate dozens of virtual servers on a single physical host |
| Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) | Hyper-converged storage pooling local disks across multiple servers | Eliminates the need for a dedicated SAN; lowers infrastructure costs |
| Shielded VMs | Encrypted VMs protected from unauthorised host-administrator access | Maximum security for sensitive and multi-tenant workloads |
| Software Defined Networking (SDN) | Centralised management of virtual networks, load balancers and firewalls via software | Network automation and segmentation without dedicated network hardware |
| Full Storage Replica | Synchronous and asynchronous replication of unlimited volumes between servers or clusters | Disaster recovery with zero RPO (synchronous) or low RPO (asynchronous) |
| Unlimited isolated Hyper-V containers | Windows containers with a dedicated kernel (Standard limits to 2) | Security isolation for microservices in multi-tenant environments |
| GPU Partitioning (GPU-P) | Shares a physical GPU across multiple VMs | AI/ML workloads, VDI with graphics and rendering without a dedicated GPU per VM |
| Network ATC | Intent-based automatic cluster networking configuration | Simplifies network setup on HCI clusters with 3+ nodes |
Datacenter vs Standard: full comparison
The main difference between the two editions is virtualisation and advanced infrastructure features:
| Feature | Standard | Datacenter |
|---|---|---|
| Cores included | 24 | 24 |
| Hyper-V VMs | 2 VMs | Unlimited |
| Isolated Hyper-V containers | 2 | Unlimited |
| Hot-patching | ✔ | ✔ |
| Storage Spaces Direct | ✘ | ✔ |
| Storage Replica | Limited (1 volume) | Full (unlimited) |
| Shielded VMs | ✘ | ✔ |
| Software Defined Networking | ✘ | ✔ |
| GPU Partitioning (GPU-P) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ideal for | Physical server, AD, file server, 1–2 VMs | Hyper-V hosts, HCI, private cloud, VDI, data centres |
Rule of thumb: if the server is a virtualisation host running 3 or more VMs, you need HCI with Storage Spaces Direct, or you run multi-tenant workloads with Shielded VMs, Datacenter is the correct edition. If you only need 1–2 VMs, Windows Server 2025 Standard is sufficient.
Datacenter 2025 vs Datacenter 2022
| Aspect | Datacenter 2022 | Datacenter 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Extended support until | October 2031 | October 2035 |
| Native hot-patching | Azure Arc only | Native (no Azure Arc required) |
| Active Directory | Functional level 2016 | Functional level 2025 (4096-bit keys, hardened Kerberos) |
| NVMe over Fabrics | No | Yes |
| GPU Partitioning | No | Yes |
| SMB over QUIC | Yes (Datacenter only) | Yes (Standard and Datacenter) |
| Ideal for | Existing virtualisation environments without new-feature requirements | New HCI deployments, AI/ML in VMs, modern AD |
Recommendation: for new Hyper-V deployments, HCI clusters or private cloud, Windows Server 2025 Datacenter is the logical choice thanks to native hot-patching (fewer reboots), GPU-P for AI workloads and 4 extra years of support. If you already have a stable 2022 environment that does not need these features, it remains valid until 2031. See also Windows Server 2022 Datacenter.
Licensing: cores + CALs
Windows Server 2025 Datacenter uses the same licensing model as Standard: processor cores plus CALs per user or device. This licence covers 24 physical cores. Additionally, every user or device accessing the server (or any of its VMs) requires a CAL:
| CAL type | What it authorises | Ideal when |
|---|---|---|
| User CAL | 1 user accesses from any number of devices | Employees using PC, laptop and mobile |
| Device CAL | 1 device used by any number of users | Shared fixed workstations used in shifts (kiosks, factory floor) |
| RDS CAL | Remote Desktop (RDP) access | Users connecting via Remote Desktop to VMs or the host |
Important: a single CAL covers access to the host and all its VMs. You do not need additional CALs for each VM. To access a Windows Server 2025 host, you need version 2025 CALs or later. See available CALs and RDS CALs.
System requirements
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | x64-compatible, 1.4 GHz, NX, DEP, CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, PrefetchW, POPCNT (SLAT recommended for Hyper-V) |
| RAM | Minimum 512 MB (2 GB for Desktop Experience; 32 GB+ recommended for Hyper-V hosts with multiple VMs) |
| Disk | 32 GB minimum free space for the OS (SSD/NVMe recommended; additional storage for VMs and S2D) |
| Firmware | UEFI with Secure Boot (TPM 2.0 recommended for Shielded VMs and advanced security) |
| Network | Ethernet adapter 1 Gbps minimum (10/25 GbE recommended for S2D and live migration) |
Typical Datacenter use cases
| Scenario | Why Datacenter |
|---|---|
| Hyper-V host with 5, 10 or 50+ VMs | Unlimited VMs included; Standard only allows 2 |
| Hyper-converged cluster (HCI) with Storage Spaces Direct | S2D is exclusive to Datacenter; replaces a SAN |
| Private cloud with multi-tenant isolation | Shielded VMs + SDN protect workloads from different tenants |
| VDI (virtual desktops) for 50+ users | Each desktop is a VM; GPU-P enhances graphics in VDI |
| Disaster recovery with cross-site replication | Full Storage Replica allows unlimited volume replication |
| AI/ML and inference on shared GPU | GPU Partitioning shares a physical GPU across multiple VMs |
IT shop, service provider or systems integrator?
If you resell licences to your clients or manage server infrastructure, the La Tienda de las Licencias distributor programme offers exclusive pricing:
- 30% discount on Windows Server, SQL Server and RDS CALs
- 20% discount on all other software licences
- 10% discount on Microsoft 365
→ Apply for distributor access
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Datacenter and Standard?
Both share the same OS engine and cover 24 cores. Datacenter allows unlimited Hyper-V VMs (Standard only 2) and includes exclusive features: Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded VMs, Software Defined Networking and full Storage Replica. If the server runs 3 or more VMs or you need HCI, Datacenter is the correct edition.
How many VMs can I run with Datacenter?
Unlimited. There is no software restriction on the number of Hyper-V virtual machines or isolated containers. The only limit is the physical capacity of the hardware (CPU, RAM, storage).
Do I need CALs for each VM or only for the host?
CALs are per user or device accessing the server, not per VM. A User CAL authorises one user to access the host and all its VMs. You do not need additional CALs for each virtual machine.
What if my server has more than 24 cores?
You need additional core licences. The base licence covers 24 physical cores. Cores are licenced in 2-core packs with a minimum of 16 cores per physical processor. For high-end servers with 48 or 64 cores you will need 2 or 3 Datacenter licences. Contact us and we will help you calculate.
Can I build an HCI cluster with this licence?
Yes. Windows Server 2025 Datacenter includes Storage Spaces Direct (S2D), which allows you to create hyper-converged storage using the local disks of the cluster nodes. You need one Datacenter licence per cluster node (each with its cores covered).
What is hot-patching and how does it work?
Hot-patching allows security patches to be applied without restarting the server. In Windows Server 2025 Datacenter it is native (no Azure Arc required, unlike 2022). This drastically reduces downtime in 24/7 production environments where monthly reboots for Windows Update are problematic.
How long will I receive security updates?
Microsoft provides mainstream support until October 2030 (new features + security) and extended support until October 2035 (security updates only). That is 10 years of guaranteed security patches from release.
Are these licences legal?
Yes. We are La Tienda de las Licencias, a Spanish company operating under the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling C-128/11, which establishes that reselling legitimate software licences is legal throughout the EU. We issue a VAT invoice and provide a lifetime licence guarantee.
Do you deliver to Latin America, Africa and Asia?
Yes. At La Tienda de las Licencias we accept local-currency payments from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Guatemala, Panama, Kenya, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia and more countries. Delivery is digital and instant by email, regardless of your geographical location.
Specific References
Perpetual Windows Server 2025 Datacenter licence for 24 cores, with unlimited Hyper-V virtual machines: the edition for virtualisation-intensive environments. Includes Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded VMs, software-defined networking and native hot-patching, with an official key, instant delivery and security support until 2035.
24 cores · unlimited VMs Hot-patching, no reboots Perpetual licence Audit-ready invoice
Will users connect via Remote Desktop? Each one needs its own RDS licence: add the RDS CALs for 50 users.
Rated 9.8/10 on eKomi (Gold seal) · Spanish company · Genuine, legally resold licence · Lifetime guarantee.
arrow_upward