MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2016 STANDARD 2-CORE

Windows Server 2016 is designed for the virtualization needs and IT of small businesses and is the version of 10. With a 2- package, existing licensing can be flexibly extended. Standard Server WindowsCore Server

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Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Standard 2-Core

Windows Server 2016 Standard is designed for the virtualization needs and IT of smaller businesses and is the server version of Windows 10. With a 2-core package, existing server licensing can be flexibly expanded.

Short info about Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Standard

With Windows Server 2016 Standard, companies get a reliable, cloud-ready server operating system that is designed for those environments that only run virtualization of applications to a small degree and that primarily use physical servers. Compared to its predecessor, this Standard Edition also offers many new features and enhancements designed to support the move to a cloud-based environment - and ensure infrastructure security through increased stability and improved protection against network and storage failures. Windows Server 2016 Standard is virtually intuitive to use, thanks to its familiar interface from Windows 10.

Edition comparison: What does Windows Server 2016 Standard offer?

When deciding to purchase the Standard edition of Windows Server 2016, the need for virtualization of applications in a company is the main factor. Standard already provides many functions here to develop and operate hyper-convergent infrastructures in a smaller company. They are supplemented by Microsoft Azure Services, which enable the closer connection of local environments with the cloud with further practical functions.

In this regard, Windows Server 2016 Standard not only offers sufficient prerequisites to create virtual networks, but also to be used for managing IT infrastructures in a data center; also for this purpose, the security of data has been further strengthened through various optimizations.

Licensing of the standard Windows Server 2016 edition with used software

Starting with the Windows Server 2016 version, licensing of the Standard Edition is exclusively core-based: A minimum number of 16 cores is always specified for each server; additional cores can be licensed with the 2-Core Packages - more details below.

Wiresoft offers the 2-Core Package of Windows Server 2016 Standard as used software. This has above all the great advantage of a lower price compared to new - with the same range of functions, e.g. in virtualization, as well as the same performance - in addition, this version is usually no longer offered new. Detailed information on the feature set of Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition as well as the exact licensing terms is provided in the following overview.

What does Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition contain?

First of all, Windows Server 2016 Standard is generally characterized by a higher performance when running applications as well as a stronger connection to the cloud compared to the predecessor version. In addition, there are new functions here in particular, which both support the switch to a cloud environment and create the prerequisites for virtualizing servers and applications.

With the Standard Edition, it is therefore possible to create complex virtual networks to a certain extent, which have greater stability, combined with better protection of the infrastructures.

When using Windows Server 2016 Standard as a data center for efficient management of an IT infrastructure in a smaller company, this edition includes, among other things, new server roles as well as more options for assigning user rights; in addition, the improved protection in the event of a network or storage failure ensures greater security and faster recovery.

Windows Server 2016 Standard can also be started in the simpler Core application - by not displaying the graphical desktop interface, the performance of older hardware in particular can be significantly improved when running the server software.

Important features available in the Standard version, which mainly concern the possibilities for virtualizing applications, are presented in more detail below.

Virtualization with Hyper-V

The standard edition of Windows Server 2016 includes virtualization rights for 2 virtual machines or 2 Hyper-V containers, with a maximum of 24 TB RAM available for this. For two additional VM rights, all existing physical active cores must be licensed again.

Hyper-V offers various storage features, such as the iSCSI initiator for the use of the SCSI protocol over an IP network, as well as the support of Storage Spaces to combine drives into a logical storage pool, which then provides storage spaces (Storage Spaces Direct is not available in the standard edition), as well as multipath I/O (MPIO) for better load distribution between the connections and higher failover and load balancing. Last but not least, VM Storage Resiliency improves the availability of Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V clusters by increasing tolerance to storage system failures.

Support for Windows Server containers running Docker

New in Microsoft Windows Server 2016 is support for Windows Server Containers as well as Hyper-V containers based on Docker, the open source software for easily deploying server and cloud applications in isolation using container virtualization, which also simplifies their deployment. With Docker, all the components needed for this are made available via the container host.

Nano Server in Windows Server 2016

Complementing this is Nano Server, a remotely managed server operating system that is optimized for Windows Server containers or the Docker extension and can be configured to host Docker containers. Nano Server allows the creation of much leaner servers, as the use of a virtual engine saves up to 90% of an organization's storage space. Nano Server can also be used not only to create Hyper-V clusters, but also for classic server services, such as file servers.

Using Microsoft Azure Services with Windows Server 2016 Standard

In Windows Server 2016 version, the connection between the operating system and the Microsoft Azure cloud service is pushed even further. Distributed data centers can thus be linked together even more efficiently and reliably to form high-performance, high-availability servers and clusters, because Azure offers the special advantage of an end-to-end hybrid infrastructure - with uniform functions for identities, security and administration for all components, as well as Cloud Witness, the high-availability feature for failover clusters, and RDS Connection Broker for the provision of virtual desktops.

Overview of Microsoft server applications and components available with Windows Server 2016 Standard

Server applications available with Windows Server 2016 Standard that can be installed via Server Manager (or PowerShell) include:

• Microsoft SQL Server: 2016, 2014 through 2012 versions
• Microsoft System Center: Virtual Machine Manager 2016, Data Protection Manager 2016, Operations Manager 2016
• Configuration Manager (1606)
• SharePoint Server 2016
• Exchange Server 2016
• Project Server 2016
• Host Integration Server 2016
• Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2017
• Skype for Business Server 2015 as well as
• BizTalk Server 2016

Further, the following components are supported, among others:

• .NET Framework 4.6 and 3.5
• PowerShell
• BitLocker drive encryption and network unlocking
• BranchCache
• Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
• Client for NFS (Network File System)
• Failover cluster
• Group Policy Management

In contrast, the following features and components are NOT supported in the Standard Edition of Windows Server 2016:

• Software-defined networking (SDN)
• Monitoring of Hyper-V virtual hosts
• Storage Replica
• Storage Spaces Direct
• Storage Replica
• Shielded Virtual Machines
• New network stack (Protocol Stack)

Software and Hardware Minimum Requirements for Installing and Operating Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition

To ensure trouble-free operation of Windows Server 2016 Standard, the hardware used must meet the minimum requirements listed below. Other requirements depend on the system configuration or any other installed applications.

• Hard disk space: 32 GB
• RAM: 512 MB (Server Core and Server Nano)
• Installation with desktop display: 2 GB
• System partition: 32 GB
• Processor: 64 bit
• Processor speed: 1.4 GHz
• Graphics card: 1,024 x 768 pixels, Super VGA support
• Network card: 1 Ethernet adapter with 1x minimum throughput in the Gigabit range

Licensing with a Windows Server 2016 Standard 2-Core Package

Microsoft licensing requirements must also be met when licensing a server with Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition as used software. At least one 2-core package is required for extended licensing, and the following rules apply.

Microsoft License Terms for Windows Server 2016

With the release of the Windows Server 2016 version, Microsoft has also fundamentally changed its licensing model. When licensing a server with the standard or a higher edition, the number of cores of the physical hardware used forms the basis here. The following provisions apply:

• A single server license covers 2 physical processor cores.
• A minimum number of 8 cores per processor is always applied - even if the existing hardware actually has less than 8 cores.
• In addition, the minimum number of processors per physical server is 2.
• This results in a minimum number of 16 cores, which is licensed with a corresponding package, which is also available from Wiresoft as used software.
• If a server has more than 16 cores, these can or must best be licensed in addition with 2-core packages for Windows Server 2016 Standard.
• In addition, each client - either user or device - that accesses Windows Server 2016 Standard must also be provided with a corresponding client access license (CAL). These User and Device CALs for Windows Server 2016 are also available from Wiresoft at low prices as used software.

Deployment of Windows Server 2016 Standard in a virtual operating system environment

Windows Server 2016 instances can be operated in the Standard Edition in a physical operating system environment - 1 running instance - or in a virtual operating system environment - max. 2 running instances. Windows Server 2016 can thus also be installed on a virtual machine on an existing host, however some features work best on a physical Windows Server 2016 host running Hyper-V.

FAQs about Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition as Wiresoft used software

With a used 2-core package of Windows Server 2016 Standard, server cores can be licensed in the same way as with a new 2-core package - although the latter is hardly ever offered new. In general, software cannot wear out anyway, so Used Software from Wiresoft offers the same functionalities and also rights as an unused server license. Frequently asked questions about features of used Windows server licenses are answered below.

Are selling, buying as well as using Microsoft Used Software like the Windows Server 2016 2-Core Package legally allowed?

Yes: As a Wiresoft customer you can trust that not only your purchase of this Windows Server 2016 Standard 2-Core Package as well as its regular use does not violate any valid laws. By the valid jurisdiction both the trade with Microsoft used software is permitted, as well as its use, because with Wiresoft this comes from the license stock of a company. Various court rulings have clearly confirmed this time and again.

Where does the used software for a Windows Server 2016 Standard 2-Core Package come from?

2-Core Packages for Windows Server 2016 Standard at Wiresoft consequently originate from companies or organizations; these have usually purchased it new themselves and also usually actually used it, and then sold it to Wiresoft. Reasons for this can be, for example, the company-wide use of a newer software version or the use of server hardware with fewer cores. Such 2-core packages are always offered as used software in the Wiresoft Shop, even if they can be used like a new license.

What about the buyer safety of used software of Windows Server 2016 Standard?

This Windows Server 2016 Standard 2-Core Package as well as any other Wiresoft Used Software offers you the usual buyer safety by the immediate download of the software package after completed payment process as well as the immediate license activation with a license key valid for it - just like new software.

Does Used Software from Wiresoft have any other advantages?

Yes: Wiresoft customers benefit first of all from the significantly lower price when purchasing used software; thus, it offers an economic advantage, since companies as well as individuals can supplement or update their software inventory more economically than with new software. Used software from Wiresoft can therefore help to reduce operating costs, because it also offers audit security due to the complete record of all buyers!

In the Wiresoft Software Shop you will find not only the 2-core package of Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition, but also the corresponding 16-core package for the basic licensing of your Windows Server. If your need for application virtualization increases, then you can reach for the Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Edition, or even the latest version: Windows Server 2019, which are also available at Wiresoft. In addition, you will also find the required client access licenses (CALs) in our used software portfolio, as well as many other Microsoft programs - with all the Wiresoft benefits mentioned. If you have any questions regarding your correct licensing of Windows Server 2016 Standard with 2-Core Packages, simply use our competent advice in chat or via e-mail or phone.