Windows Server 2019 Datacenter

Running Hyper-V in production? Windows Server 2019 Datacenter is the edition of Microsoft’s server OS built for heavily virtualized hosts: once the physical cores of a server are licensed, you can run as many Windows Server virtual machines on it as the hardware handles. A Windows Server 2019 Datacenter key from HypestKey activates that edition with a perpetual license and a Microsoft download link. It suits virtualization hosts, hyper-converged clusters and private-cloud setups. Microsoft ships security updates for Windows Server 2019 until January 9, 2029.

Key takeaways

• Unlimited virtual machines (OSEs) on a fully licensed host; Standard covers only two.
• Datacenter-only features: Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded VMs (Host Guardian Hyper-V Support), Network Controller and unlimited Storage Replica.
• Licensed per physical core: at least 8 core licenses per processor and 16 per server. Users and devices still need CALs.
• Extended support with security updates runs to January 9, 2029.
• Key emailed instantly after payment, no account needed.

What is Windows Server 2019 Datacenter?

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter is the top edition of Windows Server 2019, released on November 13, 2018 as a Long-Term Servicing Channel version. It has every role of Standard, adds software-defined storage, networking and shielded virtual machines, and grants unlimited virtual machine rights on a fully licensed host. It is the edition for dense Hyper-V hosts.

Under the hood, 2019 is close to Windows Server 2016. The big additions sit around hybrid management, containers and storage: Windows Admin Center support, System Insights, Storage Migration Service and Kubernetes-ready Windows containers. Already running 2016? Moving up is not painful. Microsoft supports an in-place upgrade from 2016 to 2019 that keeps roles and settings, though many admins still prefer a clean install on new hardware.

Two install options come on the same media. Server with Desktop Experience gives you the full Server Manager. Server Core has no desktop, needs fewer patches and less RAM, and you manage it with PowerShell, sconfig or Windows Admin Center. Pick during setup; switching later means a reinstall.

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter vs Standard: which one do you need?

Choose Windows Server 2019 Datacenter when one host will run three or more Windows Server virtual machines, or when you need Storage Spaces Direct, Shielded VMs or the SDN Network Controller. Standard covers the physical host plus two virtual machines per licensed server. Both editions share the same roles and the same per-core licensing model.

The break-even is simple arithmetic. Each extra pair of VMs on Standard means licensing all cores again, so somewhere past a handful of VMs per host Datacenter usually costs less. Running only a domain controller and a file server? The Windows Server 2019 Standard key is enough. Feature data: Microsoft Learn, Windows Server editions comparison and locks and limits.

What do the Datacenter-only features do?

Storage Spaces Direct pools the local disks of two or more servers into shared, fault-tolerant storage, so a cluster runs without a SAN. Shielded VMs encrypt a virtual machine and boot it only on hosts that the Host Guardian Service has attested. Network Controller manages physical and virtual networks centrally. All three need Datacenter.

• Storage Spaces Direct (S2D): NVMe, SSD and HDD in each node form one storage pool. Plan 10 GbE or faster networking with RDMA between nodes.
• Shielded VMs: the disk is encrypted with BitLocker and a virtual TPM; a VM will not start on a host that fails attestation. Hosting providers and regulated industries are the ones that most often use it.
• Software-defined networking: Network Controller, Software Load Balancer and network virtualization. It takes effort to set up, pays off at scale and is overkill for one or two hosts.
• Automatic Virtual Machine Activation: a Datacenter host activates its Windows Server guests without separate keys inside each VM.

Security improvements apply to both editions: Windows Defender ATP Exploit Guard, Microsoft Defender Antivirus on by default, and Credential Guard against pass-the-hash attacks. Enable Credential Guard on any host where admins sign in.

How is Windows Server 2019 Datacenter licensed?

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter is licensed per physical core, exactly like Standard. Microsoft requires at least 8 core licenses for each processor and at least 16 for each server, sold in 2-core packs. Every user or device that connects also needs a Windows Server CAL, and Remote Desktop sessions need RDS CALs on top.

Count physical cores only: hyper-threads and virtual CPUs do not count. A dual-socket host with two 8-core Xeons needs 16 core licenses; two 16-core CPUs need 32. Not sure what your hardware needs? Write to us with the CPU model and socket count before you order. For a Remote Desktop host, add RDS CALs such as the Windows Server 2019 Datacenter 5 RDS user CALs. Two administrative RDP sessions work without them.

Note: CALs are a separate purchase from the server license. Device CALs fit shared PCs; user CALs fit staff who connect from several devices.

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter system requirements

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter needs a 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor with NX, DEP, CMPXCHG16b, LAHF/SAHF, PrefetchW and second level address translation, 1 GB of RAM for Server Core or 2 GB for Desktop Experience, 32 GB of disk space and a gigabit Ethernet adapter. Microsoft calls these absolute minimums; Hyper-V hosts need far more.

Real sizing comes from the guests: add up the RAM of every VM, then leave a few gigabytes for the host itself. S2D clusters typically run 10 GbE or faster between nodes. Installing the OS itself in a VM? Give it at least 800 MB of RAM during setup. Source: Microsoft’s Windows Server hardware requirements.

How do I install and activate a Windows Server 2019 Datacenter key?

Install Windows Server 2019 from the Microsoft link in your email, choose a Datacenter option in setup, then open Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change product key, or run slmgr /ipk with your key and slmgr /ato in an elevated prompt. Running the Evaluation edition? Convert it with DISM first.

1. Write the ISO to a USB stick (Rufus works; the Windows Media Creation Tool is for Windows 10 and 11 only) and boot the server from it.
2. Pick Windows Server 2019 Datacenter or Datacenter (Desktop Experience) and finish setup.
3. Open Command Prompt with Run as administrator and run slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
4. Run slmgr /ato to activate online, then slmgr /dlv to check for “License Status: Licensed”.
5. No internet on the host? Run slui 4 for phone activation.

For an Evaluation install, check the edition with DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition, then run DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula. The same command converts a running Standard server to Datacenter. Our guide on activating Windows Server with DISM covers both cases step by step.

Tip: Activate the host before you build guests. Once it is Datacenter, AVMA keys inside Windows Server guests activate them against the host automatically.

Does Windows Server 2019 work with Azure?

Yes. Windows Server 2019 connects to Azure through Windows Admin Center: Azure Backup sends backups to a cloud vault, Azure Site Recovery replicates VMs for disaster recovery, and Azure File Sync caches file shares from Azure Files on local servers. Azure Arc can also manage on-premises 2019 servers from the Azure portal.

Useful in hybrid shops, these services are billed by Azure separately from the license. Azure Hybrid Benefit, which lowers the price of Windows Server VMs in Azure, requires licenses with active Software Assurance, so do not count on it with a perpetual key alone.

How long is Windows Server 2019 supported?

Windows Server 2019 follows Microsoft’s Fixed Lifecycle Policy. Mainstream support ended on January 9, 2024, and extended support with monthly security updates runs until January 9, 2029. Feature work has stopped, but hosts keep getting patched for the remaining years.

That is enough runway for most virtualization projects. Building a host meant to run past 2029? Look at the Windows Server 2022 Datacenter key, which Microsoft supports until October 14, 2031.

Delivery and support

HypestKey emails your Windows Server 2019 Datacenter key instantly after payment, together with the Microsoft download link, and no account is needed. You pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription. If the key does not activate, we help you fix it or send a replacement.

Questions about activation, core counts or CALs go to support@hypestkey.com or the live chat. Every 2019 edition sits in the Windows Server 2019 category. Something went wrong? We’ll help you fix it.