Virtualizing Windows Server 2016 Essentials?

[bremen1874]

I'm planning on installing a server running Windows Server 2016 Essentials for a local company. It will be replacing their existing SBS 2008 Standard server. They have approx. 10 users and no onsite IT support.

I'd like to run it virtualized. Is there any really pressing reason not to use Server 2016 Essentials as both the host and the client? As far as I can see it's a permitted scenario as long as the host is only running the Hyper-V role.

 

[crinkleshoes]

I do that... Hyper-V is decent IMO... doesn't have the outright performance of the linux based ones - but things like resource sharing are better and more useful for smaller businesses with tighter budgets.

But that's usually when wanting to run more than 1 server on a single machine.

What are the intended uses for the server?

 

[bremen1874]

It's an accountancy firm and they use CCH Accounts from Wolters Kluwer.

The server will be mainly be there to run the backend for the CCH software which uses SQL Server.

There'll only ever be the single server instance running.

I'm wanting it virtualized to simplify the maintenance side of things.

 

[crinkleshoes]

Fair enough, you/they could potentially use a second virtual instance to test software version / database upgrades etc too...

 

[#Chri5#]

Fair enough, you/they could potentially use a second virtual instance to test software version / database upgrades etc too...

Unless it changed in 2016, Essentials is a 1:1 license, so you can only run a single VM without purchasing additional licenses.

 

[crinkleshoes]

Unless it changed in 2016, Essentials is a 1:1 license, so you can only run a single VM without purchasing additional licenses.

Ah OK... been a while since I looked at licenses and don't remember the 2016 ones, only the 2012R2 ones and even then not sure on essentials... only standard which is 2:1