Windows Server

Required Disclosure associated with use of Windows Server for Hosting of Graphical User Interface

Desktops delivered as a service are supported under SPLA using Windows Server and Remote Desktop Services (RDS). If Customer chooses to deliver a service of this type, Customer must explicitly identify in its marketing materials that this infrastructure is being used for service delivery. The Windows Desktop Operating System cannot be used to provide a hosted client, hosted graphical user interface or desktop as a service.

Testing, Maintenance and Administrative Access -- Windows Server Datacenter and Standard

For each Running Instance in an OSE on a Licensed Server, Customer may permit up to two users, in addition to those permitted under the general allowance of administrative users within its data center as set forth in the “Server administration and maintenance” section of its SPLA, to use or access the server software to directly or indirectly host a graphical user interface (using the Windows Server Remote Desktop Services functionality or other technology). This use is for the sole purpose of testing, maintenance, and administration of products licensed under Customer’s SPLA. These users do not need Remote Desktop Services SALs.

Additional Terms for Windows Server Essentials

Running Instances

Customer may use one Running Instance of the software in one OSE, unless the Running Instance used in the Physical OSE is used only to host and manage Virtual OSEs, in which case Customer may use one Running Instance in the Physical OSE and one Running Instance in a Virtual OSE. Customer must run the server software within a domain where the Licensed Servers Active Directory is configured as (i) the domain controller (a single Server which contains all the flexible single master operations (FSMO) roles), (ii) the root of the domain forest, (iii) not to be a child domain, and (iv) to have no trust relationships with any other domains.

Using the Server Software

A User Account is a unique user name with its associated password created through the Windows Server Essentials Console. Customer may use up to 25 user accounts. Each user account permits a named user to access and use the server software on that Server. Customer may reassign a user account from one user to another provided that the reassignment does not occur within 90 days of the last assignment.

Windows Server Essentials Connector

Customer may install and use the Windows Server Essentials Connector software on no more than 50 devices at any one time. Customer may use this software only with the server software.

Windows Server Containers without Hyper-V isolation with Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter

Customer may use any number of OSEs instantiated as Windows Server Containers without Hyper-V isolation on the Licensed Server.

Additional Software

Per Core (OS)

Server Licenses (per core)

1. Customer may use the server software on a Licensed Server, provided it acquires sufficient Server licenses as described below.
2. The number of Licenses required equals the number of Physical Cores on the Licensed Server, subject to a minimum of 8 Licenses per Physical Processor.
3. Standard edition

• Standard edition permits use of the server software in one OSE on the Licensed Server.
• Standard edition permits use of one Running Instance of the server software in the Physical OSE on the Licensed Server (in addition to one Virtual OSE), if the Physical OSE is used solely to host and Manage the Virtual OSE.
• Customer may assign additional Standard edition Licenses to the Licensed Server equal to the number specified in 2 above and run the server software in one additional OSE on the Licensed Server.

1. Datacenter edition permits use of the server software in any number of OSEs on the Licensed Server.

Per Processor

Server Licenses (per processor)

1. Customer may use the server software on a Licensed Server as described in the Product-Specific License Terms, provided it acquires sufficient Licenses as described below.
2. One License is required for each Physical Processor on a Licensed Server.
3. Each License permits use of one Running Instance of the server software in one OSE.

Subscriber Access Licenses (SALs) for Server Software

Access License

1. Provided it acquires one or more SALs for the software, Customer may use any number of Running Instances of the server software.
2. Customer must acquire a SAL for each user or device authorized by Customer to access the server software regardless of actual access.

Server Software Access

Windows Server Datacenter and Standard

¹Also required for use of Windows Server to host a graphical user interface (using the Windows Server Remote Desktop Services functionality or other technology).

²Customer may use Azure Virtual Desktop running Windows Server through September 30, 2025, provided it acquires one or more Windows Server 2025 Remote Desktop Services SALs. Additional Windows Server core licenses are not required under Customer's SPLA. Customer must purchase Microsoft Azure Services under a separate contract subject to the Microsoft Product Terms; Customer must also purchase Windows Server core licenses under that separate contract in order to use the Microsoft Azure Hybrid Benefit.  

³A SAL is also required for any person for whom the software issues or manages identity information.

Synchronization Service Usage Only – Microsoft Identity Manager

If using only the synchronization services of Microsoft Identity Manager, SALs are not required.