When you want to deploy your business in a Microsoft software-based environment, Microsoft licenses can be provided through Alibaba Cloud.
You can use one of the following methods to use a Microsoft license in Alibaba Cloud:
Use Microsoft licenses provided by Alibaba Cloud
Purchase Microsoft licenses from Alibaba Cloud. These licenses are included in Windows Server public images that are provided by Alibaba Cloud or Alibaba Cloud Marketplace images that have SQL Server pre-installed.
If you have purchased a Microsoft license, apply for Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance to bring your own license (BYOL) to Alibaba Cloud.
Use Microsoft licenses provided by Alibaba Cloud
Alibaba Cloud provides Microsoft licenses through the Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA). Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS) and ApsaraDB RDS provide software licensed by Microsoft, such as Windows Server images and ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server. Client Access Licenses (CALs) are not required for Alibaba Cloud ECS instances that run Windows Server images. By default, each Windows Server instance has two connections that are used only for management purposes. If you need more connections or want to use the connections for non-management purposes. If you need more than two connections, or need to use the connections for non-management purposes, additional Remote Desktop Services CALs (RDS CALs) are required.
The following table lists the Windows Server and SQL Server versions that Alibaba Cloud provides. For more information, see Create an instance on the Custom Launch tab.
Windows Server version | SQL Server version |
For more information about Windows Server versions, see Windows Server. |
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Starting January 14, 2020, Microsoft no longer provides support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Alibaba Cloud no longer provides technical support for ECS instances that run the preceding operating systems. If your ECS instances run the preceding operating systems, we recommend that you upgrade to Windows Server 2016 or later at the earliest opportunity. For more information, see Windows Server EOL guidance.
Bring your own license
If you have existing Microsoft licenses, you can bring them to Alibaba Cloud under the Bring Your Own License (BYOL) model. Your options depend on whether your licenses include Software Assurance coverage. For more information about Software Assurance, visit the official Microsoft website.
You can import a BYOL image to Alibaba Cloud and use this image to create ECS instances. Set License Type to BYOL when you import a BYOL image. For more information, see Import a custom image.
Microsoft licenses without Software Assurance coverage
If your Microsoft licenses do not include Software Assurance, you must run them on services that provide dedicated physical hardware, such as ECS Bare Metal Instances or Dedicated Hosts. Because you are the sole tenant of the hardware, you can use your existing licenses on these services. For more information, see Overview and What is DDH?.
ImportantTo meet compliance requirements, you must have obtained your license before October 1, 2019 and the operating system versions must have been released before October 1, 2019.
All Microsoft software covered by the Microsoft Product Terms can be deployed on ECS bare metal instances or dedicated hosts. Examples include:
Microsoft Windows Server
Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft SharePoint Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft System Center
Microsoft Dynamics
MSDN
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (user CALs)
Microsoft licenses with Software Assurance coverage
If your licenses have Software Assurance coverage, you can migrate them to Alibaba Cloud by using License Mobility. Before you migrate your services to ECS, you must verify your license eligibility through the License Mobility program. For more information, see Apply for License Mobility and What is SMC?.
The following list describes eligible Microsoft applications and services:
Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft SharePoint Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft System Center
Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft BizTalk Server
Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (user CALs)
Microsoft Skype for Business Server
Disclaimer
This document is for reference only and is not legal advice. For specific questions about Microsoft software licensing, consult your legal team, Microsoft, or a Microsoft licensing partner.