Microsoft Licensing on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

Platform images

These Windows versions are available for platform images:

• Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, Datacenter
• Windows Server 2016 Standard, Datacenter
• Windows Server 2019 Standard, Datacenter
• Windows Server 2022 Standard, Datacenter

Bring Your Own Image (BYOI)

If you don't need to migrate your Windows OS licenses, you can use the Bring Your Own Image process to migrate your Windows image to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Yes, Windows Server 2022 is available as a platform image.

Yes, you can import your own Windows Server 2022 image for virtual machines only. For source image requirements and steps to import an image, see Importing Custom Windows Images.

The following table shows support for Microsoft Windows Server operating systems on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Yes, you are permitted to import your own generalized custom image of Windows Server.

When you create an instance with an imported image on a VM or a shared bare metal machine, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure licenses the instance. For more information about imported images, see Creating Windows Custom Images.

If you want to use your own license, BYOI is supported only for bare metal machines on a dedicated host.

The cost of a Microsoft Windows Server license is an additional cost, on top of the underlying compute instance price. You pay separately for the compute instance and the Windows Server license. For more information about Microsoft Windows Server pricing, see Compute Pricing.

Billing for the Windows Server license is based on per-OCPU, per-second usage. Billing starts when an instance is in the "running" state and ends when you terminate (delete) the instance.

When an instance is stopped, billing for the Windows Server license depends on the shape that was used to create the instance. Billing pauses for instances that use a Standard shape or a shape in the VM.GPU.A10 series. Billing continues for instances that use a Dense I/O shape, HPC shape, or any other GPU shape.

Depending on the shape, you might also be billed for the underlying compute instance when the instance is stopped.

You must update your VCN's security list to enable egress traffic for port 80 (HTTP) and port 443 (HTTPS) to install patches from Microsoft. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure enables automatic updates for Microsoft Windows Server and uses the default settings for applying Windows Server patches.

Yes, there are several options available on both bare metal and virtual machines:

• Create a custom image: Creates a custom image that you can use to launch other instances. Instances that you launch from your image include the customizations, configuration, and software installed when you created the image.
• Clone a boot volume: Makes a copy of an existing boot volume without needing to go through the backup and restore process. A boot volume clone is a point-in-time direct disk-to-disk deep copy of the source boot volume, so all the data that is in the source boot volume when the clone is created is copied to the boot volume clone.
• Back up a block volume: Makes a point-in-time backup of data on a block volume. You can restore a backup to a new volume either immediately after a backup or at a later time that you choose.
• Back up a boot volume: Makes a backup of a boot volume. Boot volume backup capabilities are the same as block volume backup capabilities and are in-region only. Windows boot volume backups cannot be copied across regions.

Yes, exporting custom Windows Server operating system images is supported.

When exporting Windows-based images, you are responsible for complying with the Microsoft Product Terms and all product use conditions, as well as verifying your compliance with Microsoft.

For steps to export an image, see Image Import/Export.

Oracle Support provides limited assistance for Microsoft Windows Server platform images if the Windows Server version has not reached end of support with Microsoft. All other Microsoft software is supported directly by Microsoft Support.

Oracle Support can help verify that the operating system boots, that the operating system connects to the network, and that attached storage connects and performs as expected. If you encounter other issues with Microsoft Windows Server, work directly with Microsoft Support to resolve the issue. For more information, see Support Options for Microsoft Windows.

To upgrade to a newer version of Windows Server, you can do either of the following things:

• Obtain the installation media from Microsoft or your Microsoft reseller, and then upgrade the existing compute instance. The license issued by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure remains in effect.
• Create a new compute instance using the desired version of the Windows Server platform image, and then migrate your applications and data to the new instance.

BYOL stands for "bring your own license." BYOL lets you use software licenses that you already own to deploy software on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, without any additional licensing fees. This process uses the License Mobility through Software Assurance benefit provided by Microsoft. You must have active Software Assurance with Microsoft to bring your licenses to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

License Mobility through Software Assurance is a Microsoft benefit that permits you to move your eligible Microsoft licenses to cloud services providers such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Oracle is an Authorized Mobility Partner for License Mobility.

With License Mobility through Software Assurance, you can deploy eligible application servers on bare metal hosts or virtual shared hardware in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. An example of an application eligible for License Mobility through Software Assurance is Microsoft SQL. Windows Server operating systems are not eligible.

You may move Microsoft licenses from on-premises or another Authorized Mobility Partner only after more than 90 days have passed since the last license move.

For more information about this Microsoft benefit, see License Mobility through Software Assurance. For steps to move your Microsoft licenses to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, see Moving Microsoft Licenses to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Microsoft License Mobility.

Yes, Oracle is an Authorized Mobility Partner for the Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance benefit.

Yes. You can bring your own license (BYOL) for Microsoft Windows Server on a dedicated bare metal or dedicated virtual machine host, subject to the Microsoft Product Terms. You are responsible for managing your own licenses to maintain compliance with Microsoft licensing terms. For more information, see Licensing Options for Microsoft Windows.

The following table shows the BYOL requirements for Microsoft licenses on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Application licenses such as SQL Server or System Center require License Mobility through Software Assurance when running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure VM instances. License Mobility is not used for Microsoft Office, Windows clients, or Windows Server BYOL. Review the Microsoft Product Terms to validate which applications support License Mobility.

Direct questions about your licensing rights to Microsoft or your Microsoft reseller.

You cannot migrate your Windows Server OS licenses when using Oracle Cloud Infrastructure virtual machines.

However, you can bring your own hypervisor (KVM) to run a Windows Server VM with your own Windows Server OS license.

The following restrictions apply:

• You can use VMs with their own license only if you use bring your own hypervisor on a dedicated bare metal host.

• BYOL of Microsoft Windows Server is not supported for VMs running on a shared host. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure-provided VMs offer Windows Server.

  • You can use a bare metal instance under bring your own hypervisor.
  • You must install and manage a hypervisor (KVM or Hyper-V) and launch your own VMs. This will ensure isolation, because all Oracle VMs are running on a dedicated bare metal server.
• BYOL on a dedicated host (KVM hypervisor only) is permitted for Microsoft Windows Server.
• VMs can run Windows Server with a Visual Studio (MSDN) subscription license when used for development use only.

Any Microsoft Server licenses permitted on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure must be eligible according to the latest Microsoft Product Terms. It is your responsibility to verify that the licensing agreements with Microsoft permit you to bring on-premises perpetual Microsoft licenses to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and are eligible licensed products according to the latest Microsoft Product Terms. Microsoft application products that are currently eligible for License Mobility require an active Software Assurance benefit to move your license. For more information, see Moving Microsoft Licenses to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Microsoft License Mobility.

Yes, you can bring your own SQL Server license using License Mobility through Active Software Assurance. The following restrictions apply:

• When you move your Microsoft SQL license using the license mobility process, the Microsoft Windows Server license is not included. Microsoft Windows Server licenses are not permitted to be moved under License Mobility. Windows Server operating systems must use the license issued by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
• Perpetual licenses can be moved from on-premises or other cloud providers only after more than 90 days have passed since the last license move.
• End-of-support versions are not supported on shared host virtual machines on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Follow the license mobility process to move your SQL Server license to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

The Microsoft SQL Enterprise listing in the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Marketplace does not include licenses for Power BI. Oracle's reseller agreement doesn't allow Power BI licenses to be included with Microsoft SQL Enterprise.

You can purchase Power BI licenses in the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Marketplace separately from Microsoft SQL Enterprise.

Yes, you can use your Visual Studio (MSDN) subscription license for non-production purposes on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure on either bare metal or virtual machine instances. You are responsible for complying with the Visual Studio subscription terms.

No, Oracle does not sell Visual Studio (MSDN) subscriptions. Contact Microsoft or your Microsoft reseller.

No, Visual Studio (MSDN) subscription licenses are for development, testing, or demonstration purposes only.

Follow the steps to connect to a Windows instance. Windows operating systems permit remote access for a maximum of two users using Remote Desktop Services (RDS) for Administration purposes.

RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) are required for each user or device using Remote Desktop.

No, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure does not offer Microsoft RDS (Remote Desktop Server) Subscriber Access Licenses (SALs). You can bring your own license (BYOL) and use your RDS Client Access Licenses (CALs) on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure bare metal or virtual machines only if you have active Software Assurance coverage and move those licenses using the license mobility process.

Yes, you can use your Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Client Access Licenses (CALs) on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure if you use the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure bare metal offering. In addition, you can use virtual machines with their own Visual Studio (MSDN) subscription license if you bring your own hypervisor (KVM).

You can use your RDS CAL licenses on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure virtual machines only if you have active Software Assurance coverage and move your CALs using the license mobility process.

You can bring Microsoft System Center server Management Licenses (server MLs) using the license mobility process. There are minimums to take into consideration with System Center Management License 2-core licenses and 16-core licenses. A virtual machine requires a minimum of 16 core licenses to be assigned to it, and more if the VM has more than 16 virtual cores.

System Center client Management Licenses (client MLs) are not eligible for license mobility and cannot be moved to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

Yes, Windows platform images include cloudbase-init installed by default. You can use cloudbase-init to run PowerShell scripts, batch scripts, or other user data content on instance launch. Cloudbase-init is the equivalent of cloud-init on Linux-based images.

Yes, Microsoft Windows Remote Management (WinRM) is enabled by default on Windows platform images. WinRM enables you to remotely manage the operating system.

Microsoft establishes the support lifecycle policy for its products. When a product reaches the end of its support lifecycle, Microsoft no longer provides security updates for the product. You should upgrade to the latest version to remain secure.

Windows Server 2012 R2 reached the end of its support life cycle on October 10, 2023. Although you can continue to import your own Windows 2012 R2 images and run your existing instances, you are at a higher risk of security issues, incompatibility, or failures. Oracle does not provide any operating system support for end-of-support operating systems. See Operating System Lifecycle and Support Policy

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure does not provide new platform images after the end-of-support date. However, you can import your own image and launch it on a shared host VM.

There are no restrictions to running end-of-support operating systems on bare metal machines on a dedicated host. You may bring your own image (BYOI) of a Windows Server 2012 R2 image, but you must import a custom OS image and run the image on a dedicated host.

Yes, you can purchase Extended Security Updates (ESUs) from Microsoft for use on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

For VMs on shared infrastructure, you must have an enterprise agreement in place with Microsoft. With that agreement in place, you can purchase ESUs per virtual core matching the number of OCPUs per VM instance, with a minimum requirement of 16 virtual core licenses per VM instance.

For bare metal machines, you must have an enterprise agreement in place with Microsoft. With that agreement in place, you can purchase ESUs per physical core of the dedicated bare metal host.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure cannot purchase ESUs on your behalf.

You are fully responsible for purchasing the correct number of ESUs for your instances. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure does not keep track of whether you have enough ESUs.