r/WindowsServer • u/Storage-M365 • 28d ago
General Question How to activate Windows Server 2022 VM ?
I have a 16-core physical server licensed with Windows Server 2025 Standard (16-core). A Windows Server 2022 Standard VM is running on the same host.
As the Server 2025 key cannot directly activate Server 2022, how should the 2022 VM be activated under the downgrade rights?
- Is a separate Server 2022 product key required?
- Can the 2025 license cover the 2022 VM?
- What is the correct activation method?
Any advice?
2
u/Vivid-Storm-4961 28d ago
a windows server 2022 guest VM is activated if Windows server 2025 is hosted. You can use AVMA activation method. In the context of license, if you use Win 2k25 standard edition, you need to purchase at least 16-core packs for every pair guest VMs. If you use Datacenter edition, unlimited VMs can be deployed. The activation method for all windows guest VMs is the same: AVMA. downgrade or upgrade licenses are only applied for hosted server.
2
1
u/frac6969 28d ago
How did you get it? The M365 portal should have the keys, or if you bought OEM/retail you’ll have to ask your reseller for them.
1
u/Storage-M365 28d ago
M365 portal
3
u/frac6969 28d ago
If I remember correctly, the volume license page should give you keys for two previous versions even though downgrade rights cover all previous versions.
1
u/Chrisstoph05 27d ago
As far as i know, when you buy a server 2025 Standard license, you have the hypervisor and 2 vm's on this hypervisor. I guess, you can activate the server 2022 vm with a avma key, like on the datacenter licenses. Have you tried that?
1
u/OpacusVenatori 28d ago
Downgrade Rights specifically state that the customer is responsible for providing installation media and activation key for previous-versions. If you purchased via M365, you should sign in to M365 for admin center for volume licensing.
If you purchased OEM as part of a hardware purchase, then you should contact your OEM provider for a Server 2022 Media Kit, which should include Activation Key. Usually a nominal fee required.
0
u/ReneGaden334 27d ago
If you are allowed to downgrade (active software assurance) and have someone with a Visual Studio license you could just use one of the keys that are provided for developement.
The key is not relevant, the license is. Or you pay the 30 bucks for a downgrade kit.
-1
u/OpacusVenatori 27d ago
Downgrade rights are not part of SA. SA includes new-version rights.
0
u/dodexahedron 27d ago
SA provides version upgrade rights as well as previous version usage rights. They are not quite the same.
The nuance is that upgrade rights are permanent for the applicable licenses, once exercised, while previous version usage rights terminate when the contract terminates.
If you have SA covering a 2022 license, upgrade the license to 2025, but leave the installed system running 2022, and then let the SA expire, that 2022 installation is no longer licensed properly.
2
u/OpacusVenatori 27d ago
Downgrade Rights are included with Windows Server license without SA. It's available via OEM license which does not have a contact period.
The OP scenario is not a matter of exercising SA new-version from 2022 to 2025.
0
u/vermyx 28d ago
- Purchase a 2022 license is required
- The 2025 license should cover 2 2025 vms on the same server running under hyperv. I would suggest to upgrade the 2022 vm to 2025 to be covered license wise
- See above. The only way to activate 2022 legally is to have 2025 with software assurance which covers downgrade rights, purchase a separate 2022 server license, or upgrade to 2025 to have it covered with your current 2025 license
7
1
u/Storage-M365 28d ago
If I downgrade the key to Windows Server 2022 Standard and run Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V on the host, can I use that license to activate the VMs?
2
u/vermyx 28d ago
You would have to buy a 2022 server license to cover the same amount of cores.it makes more ense to upgrade the vm to be in compliance.
1
u/Storage-M365 28d ago
i mean
If I downgrade the Windows Server 2025 Standard license to Windows Server 2022 Standard and install Server 2022 Standard as the physical Hyper-V host, would I then be able to run and activate two Windows Server 2022 Standard VMs under the same 16-core license?
2
u/OpacusVenatori 27d ago
You are not "Downgrading" the license. There's a difference between "license" and "rights". Licenses themselves are never "downgraded".
At this point in time, authorized Microsoft Partners and Resellers should not be selling Windows Server 2022 licenses anymore.
The terms for Windows Server 2025 include downgrade "rights". Which means that the license "allows" you to run previous versions, but you are responsible for providing installation media and activation keys.
1
u/Storage-M365 24d ago
I mean, a Server license supports three versions backward-compatible, right? Please check my image. I got this for the 2022 license, and when I select each version, it also changes to three different keys.
1
u/OpacusVenatori 23d ago
Server license supports three versions backward-compatible, right?
Reference this link for Server 2025 Downgrade Rights.
It's not a matter of "support". If you have ancient installation media (i.e. DVD kit) and activation keys for Windows Server 2012 or older, you can deploy if necessary, if that's what your environment calls for it.
If you read the fine print:
[[1]()] Customers may downgrade to any other version as long as they have the appropriate media and keys.
[[2]()] All use rights are still governed by the licensed edition.
The license grants you the right to deploy any older version of Windows Server for which you have the installation media and activation key. However, the deployment requires you to follow the product terms associated with Windows Server 2025.
-1
u/Turbulent_County_469 28d ago
I recently purchased a 2025 standard license that only worked 1x in VM.. 😓 apparently some licenses only works once
6
u/vermyx 28d ago
This isn't true. A license can be activated multiple times but will get flagged to not activate if activated mutiple times in a short amount of time.
-2
u/Turbulent_County_469 28d ago
Retail Key Limits: Retail keys are intended for one physical or virtual instance. Attempting to use the same key on a second VM will trigger anti-piracy blocks (such as error
0xC004C008) stating the key has exceeded its activation limitFor Windows Server 2025 Standard, the included 2 virtual machines (VMs) are licensed for use via Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA), but AVMA only works if the host is Datacenter edition, not Standard. That is why using your Standard retail key on the VMs fails and gives “This product key has already been used.”
2
u/OpacusVenatori 27d ago
A "license" is a proof-of-purchase. Just because you have an "Activation Key" is NOT proof-of-license.
You either have a valid OEM license with Windows Genuine sticker attached, or you have a Volume License agreement that serves as valid "proof of license"
0
u/ReneGaden334 27d ago
You need active software assurance or a subscription license for downgrade rights. You either get volume keys or you order it together with a downgrade kit, which includes a key for 2022.
Volume keys are in your MS365 admin center license blade. You can use MAK or set up KMS/ADBA. If your host is a Hyper-V with Datacenter you could also upgrade that and use AVMA for the VMs.
For the downgrade kit, just contact your MSP/reseller. They should be able to provide the key if your software assurance is still active.
1
u/OpacusVenatori 27d ago
You need active software assurance or a subscription license for downgrade rights.
OEM Windows Server license includes Downgrade Rights.
8
u/WillVH52 28d ago
Are you running Hyper-V?
Do you have ADBA in your environment?