Update (January 2024): The details in this post may now be outdated. For the latest information, refer to our post on Extending Microsoft Licensing Mobility to the AWS Cloud.
When engaging with potential AWS users, one common question arises: Is Windows Server available? As many may know, AWS has supported Windows Server 2003 for some time, and support for Windows Server 2008 has also been introduced. After confirming that users can run Windows Server and their existing Microsoft applications on Amazon EC2, larger organizations often inform us about their Enterprise Agreement (EA) with Microsoft, inquiring if it can be utilized for EC2 instances.
Today, we are pleased to announce that the answer is a conditional but enthusiastic “Yes!” Thanks to a new pilot program from Microsoft, you can transfer your EA Windows Server licenses to the cloud, activate them, and launch Amazon EC2 instances running Microsoft Windows Server at the same pricing as Linux/UNIX On-Demand or Reserved Instances.
Enrollment is open now and will continue until September 23, 2023, so be sure to act quickly. Your involvement and input will significantly influence the future of this pilot program.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for this initiative, your organization must meet the following requirements:
- Your company must be based in the United States or have a legal entity there.
- Your existing Microsoft Enterprise Agreement must remain valid for at least 12 months after enrolling in the Pilot.
- You should have purchased Software Assurance from Microsoft for your EA Windows Server licenses.
- You must be classified as an Enterprise customer (this pilot does not cover Academic and Government institutions).
After enrollment, you can transfer your Enterprise Agreement Windows Server Standard, Enterprise, or Datacenter Edition licenses to Amazon EC2 for one year. Each Windows Server Standard license allows you to launch one EC2 instance, while each Enterprise or Datacenter license permits launching up to four EC2 instances. You can utilize any EC2 instance types, but note that licenses can only be transferred between EC2 and on-premises machines every 90 days. Your licenses can be used in the US East (Northern Virginia) or US West (Northern California) Regions. Remember, you remain responsible for maintaining your Client Access Licenses and External Connector licenses.
How to Participate
To take part in this program, locate your Enterprise Agreement Number and complete the Windows License Mobility Form. We will verify your eligibility with Microsoft, after which you will need to sign and return some paperwork. We’ll conduct final checks, forward the documentation to Microsoft, and activate your AWS account for the program. We’ve established SLAs for each step to ensure you can be operational in less than two weeks.
Operationally, you will utilize a few new EC2 APIs (ActivateLicense, DeactivateLicense, and DescribeLicenses) to indicate how many licenses you wish to apply for EC2. The ActivateLicense and DescribeLicenses requests will generate a “License Pool” that you can use in an EC2 RunInstances request, activating an EC2 instance using your license at a reduced rate.
For further insights, check out this blog post here, which provides more on the subject. Additionally, this authoritative resource is worth reviewing. Moreover, if you are interested in becoming part of the Amazon team, explore this excellent resource to learn more about opportunities available.
— Alex
SEO Metadata
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