{"product_id":"windows-server-2022-datacenter","title":"Windows Server 2022 Datacenter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWindows Server 2022 Datacenter\u003c\/strong\u003e is the top edition of Windows Server 2022, for heavily virtualised and software-defined environments. It adds unlimited Windows Server VM rights, Storage Spaces Direct, shielded VMs and software-defined networking to everything in Standard, and license4u.co delivers the licence key by email.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho should choose 2022 Datacenter\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTeams running a Hyper-V host with many VMs, a failover cluster or hyper-converged storage, whose applications, backup tools and hardware are certified on Server 2022 rather than 2025. If your workload is one or two VMs on a single box, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/windows-server-2022-standard\"\u003eWindows Server 2022 Standard\u003c\/a\u003e is enough. For a brand-new build with the longest support window, consider \u003ca href=\"\/products\/windows-server-2025-datacenter\"\u003eWindows Server 2025 Datacenter\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDatacenter adds\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnlimited virtual machines\u003c\/strong\u003e on a fully licensed host, versus two on Standard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorage Spaces Direct\u003c\/strong\u003e to pool local drives into resilient, hyper-converged storage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShielded VMs and Host Guardian Service\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoftware-defined networking\u003c\/strong\u003e with network controller and virtual load balancing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnrestricted Storage Replica\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt shares the Server 2022 platform features: secured-core server, TLS 1.3 by default, SMB AES-256 encryption and SMB compression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSupport timeline\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMainstream support ends 13 October 2026 and extended support, with monthly security updates, runs to 14 October 2031, per Microsoft's \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/lifecycle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eproduct lifecycle pages\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLicensing notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePer physical core. CALs for users or devices are separate, and Remote Desktop Services needs RDS CALs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSystem requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.4 GHz 64-bit processor with virtualisation extensions, 512 MB RAM minimum (plan for far more on a host), 32 GB storage, Gigabit Ethernet, and UEFI 2.3.1c with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow your key arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour key and activation instructions are emailed after payment. Nothing ships. Need step-by-step help? See our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/guides\/windows-server-2022-datacenter-installation-and-activation-guide\"\u003eWindows Server 2022 Datacenter installation and activation guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDo the guest VMs need separate keys?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn an activated Datacenter host, Windows Server guests can activate automatically via AVMA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMy key is rejected on an evaluation install. Why?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConvert the evaluation to the full Datacenter edition with DISM \/Set-Edition first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I still deploy Server 2022 safely?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Security updates continue until October 2031.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Microsoft","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49031121633534,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0832\/1377\/9198\/files\/windows-server-2022-datacenter_23072bd0-ada2-473a-8ee3-8ffde236f082.png?v=1790073793","url":"https:\/\/license4u.co\/products\/windows-server-2022-datacenter","provider":"license4u.co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}