Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Datacenter (16 Core)

Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Datacenter 16 Core

Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Datacenter 16 Core is the premium edition of Microsoft's server operating system, designed for servers with processors totaling up to 16 physical cores. It offers all the exclusive features of the Datacenter edition — including unlimited Windows Server virtual machines and Shielded VMs — in a configuration suited for compact servers with high virtualization density.

16 Core vs 24 Core Datacenter — which to choose?

The 16 Core version covers servers with processors totaling up to 16 physical cores. Both editions offer exactly the same Datacenter features — the difference lies only in the number of cores covered. If your infrastructure has more active cores or you anticipate increased load, Windows Server 2022 Datacenter 24 Core is available as a digital license on Licence24.ch. For environments with moderate virtualization needs, Windows Server 2022 Standard 16 Core offers a more cost-effective alternative.

Who is it for?

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter 16 Core is intended for IT teams, large organizations, and enterprises looking to deploy a highly virtualized environment or a private cloud on compact 16-core servers. It is the entry solution in the 2022 Datacenter range, ideal for organizations needing a high number of virtual machines without licensing constraints, while controlling costs related to the number of cores.

ℹ️ Windows Server 2022 CALs are required for each user or device connecting to the server, regardless of the edition.

Main Features

• Unlimited Windows Server virtual machines per license (exclusive Datacenter benefit)
• Secured-Core Server — enhanced firmware-level protection against advanced attacks
• TLS 1.3 enabled by default for secure network communications
• Shielded VMs — protection of virtual machines against unauthorized hypervisor-level access
• Storage Replica — synchronous or asynchronous storage replication between servers or clusters
• Advanced Software-Defined Networking (SDN) for large-scale network virtualization
• SMB over QUIC — access shared files over the Internet without VPN
• Enhanced Azure integration: Azure Arc, Azure Automanage, hybrid backup and replication
• Windows Server and Linux containers for modern application deployments
• High availability with multi-node failover clustering

Compatibility and Requirements

• License model: per core — covers up to 16 physical cores on 1 server
• Virtual machines: unlimited Windows Server VMs on the covered physical host
• Processor: x64, minimum 1.4 GHz (2 GHz recommended), SSE2 compatible
• RAM: minimum 512 MB (32 GB recommended for virtualized environments)
• Disk space: minimum 32 GB
• Network: Gigabit Ethernet adapter recommended
• ⚠️ Windows Server 2022 CALs are required for each user or device connecting to the server
• Activation via Microsoft servers
• Microsoft support guaranteed until 10/14/2031