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With the new virtualization licensing of Microsoft, it's important to know how licensing is going to work.

First, a few details.

* Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Edition is $882 and allows for TWO virtual machines.

* Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter Edition is $6,155 and allows for UNLIMITED virtual machines.

* Each copy of Windows purchased counts as its own virtual license.

So, let's consider the following scenarios:

--You install a copy of Windows 2012 R2 Standard Edition on your physical server. You can now install two virtual guests from the exact same media. Total Cost = $882.

--You install a copy of Windows 2012 R2 Standard Edition on your physical server. You need to install three copies of Windows as virtual guests. Windows 2012 R2 Standard provides the first two licenses. You'll have to purchase a second copy of Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard for the third license. Total Cost: $1,764.

--You install a copy of Windows 2012 R2 Datacenter Edition on your physical server. You can install as many virtual guests as you want; as much as your hardware can handle. 10, 20, 50, 100. Doesn't matter as long as your hardware can run it. Total Cost: $6,155.

--You install a copy of CentOS on your physical server. CentOS does not come with any Windows licenses. Every copy of Windows you install as a guest must be purchased. For example, if you want to run two copies of Windows as virtual guests, that $882 * 2 = $1,764.

JamesNT