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+--- Thread: How can you verify the licensing status of Hyper-V installations? (/showthread.php?tid=362)
How can you verify the licensing status of Hyper-V installations? - savas - 11-18-2019
To verify the licensing status of Hyper-V installations, you’ll want to take a few straightforward steps. First off, you need to check the Windows Server edition that’s running Hyper-V. The licensing often depends on whether you're using Windows Server Standard, Datacenter, or Essentials. If you’ve set up your Hyper-V on a Windows Server version, you can usually find the edition by running a simple command in the PowerShell.
Once you’ve identified the edition, the next step is to check if the license is activated. You can do this by typing `slmgr.vbs /xpr` in a Command Prompt. This command will quickly show you whether your Windows Server is activated and, importantly, if it’s a permanent license. If it’s showing as activated, that’s a good sign indicating your Hyper-V installation should be properly licensed.
After you’ve confirmed the activation, it’s worth looking at your VMs. In a Datacenter edition, for example, you have the flexibility to run an unlimited number of VMs on your host. But if you’re on Standard, there’s a limit, so you’ll want to confirm you're compliant with those rules as well. By using the Hyper-V Manager, you can check how many VMs you’re running and make sure it aligns with what your license permits.
You could also reach out to your Microsoft Partner or check the Volume Licensing Service Center if you got your licensing through a volume license agreement. They can give you the specific details about your license, including the number of instances you’re allowed to run in Hyper-V.
Don’t forget about the importance of updating your server as well. Microsoft often releases updates that could influence licensing, and keeping everything up to date ensures that you remain compliant and avoid any surprises.
To sum it up, once you know your Windows Server edition and have confirmed that it’s activated, dive into your VM count and keep an eye on updates. This approach will give you a solid grip on the licensing status of your Hyper-V installations, so you can focus on what really matters—keeping things running smoothly.
I hope my post was useful. Are you new to Hyper-V and do you have a good Hyper-V backup solution? See my other post