What you get with Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
You are buying a product key for Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter. In this release Microsoft licenses servers by processor, and a single Datacenter license covers up to two physical processors in one server while allowing unlimited instances of Windows Server on it. The key reaches you by e-mail together with Microsoft’s download link and setup notes; the invoice follows as a PDF with the order-completed e-mail. It is a perpetual license paid once.

Built for Hyper-V hosts
Datacenter and Standard share the same 2012 R2 feature set; what Datacenter adds is the right to run as many Windows Server guests as the host can hold. The parts of 2012 R2 that matter most on such a host:
- Hyper-V with failover clustering, so guests can run on clustered hosts.
- Hyper-V Network Virtualization, which runs isolated virtual networks on top of the physical one.
- Automatic Virtual Machine Activation: Windows Server 2012 R2 guests activate against the activated Datacenter host with Microsoft’s AVMA key, without a key of their own.
- Storage Spaces with storage tiers and write-back cache, and deduplication of live virtual desktop disks on a scale-out file share.
- Remote Desktop Services for virtual desktops and RemoteApp programs.
Datacenter, Standard or a newer host
Every Standard license allows two Windows Server instances, so a host with many guests needs several of them; one Datacenter license per two processors removes that count. A file server or domain controller with one or two guests only needs Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard. Each user or device still needs a Windows Server CAL; Windows Server 2012 CALs are valid for 2012 R2. For a host that should also activate 2016 guests, Windows Server Datacenter 2016 is the next release.
Activating Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
- Download the 2012 R2 installation image with the Microsoft link from your e-mail and install the Datacenter edition, Server with a GUI or Server Core.
- In an elevated command prompt, enter slmgr /ipk and the 25-character key.
- Activate with slmgr /ato; slmgr /dli then displays the license status.
- For each Windows Server 2012 R2 guest on this host, install Microsoft’s published AVMA key with slmgr /ipk inside the VM; it activates when it starts.
Screenshots of setup and activation are in our Windows Server installation and activation walkthrough.
System requirements
| CPU | 64-bit processor, 1.4 GHz minimum |
|---|---|
| RAM | 512 MB minimum; give a VM more than 800 MB while setup runs |
| Disk space | 32 GB for the system partition, more on hosts with over 16 GB of RAM |
| Network | Gigabit Ethernet adapter |
| Optional | DVD drive for disc installs, 1024 × 768 monitor, keyboard and mouse, internet connection |
Questions about Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
Does 2012 R2 Datacenter use core licensing?
No. Per-core licensing started with Windows Server 2016. A 2012 R2 Datacenter license covers two physical processors, whatever their core count; a four-processor server needs two licenses.
Which guests can AVMA activate on this host?
A 2012 R2 Datacenter host activates Windows Server 2012 R2 guests of the Datacenter, Standard and Essentials editions. Newer guest versions need a newer host or their own keys.
Does the license include Remote Desktop CALs?
No. Remote Desktop Services users need RDS CALs in addition to their Windows Server CALs.


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