A Windows Server Container is a recourse controlled, isolated and portable operating environment. The container shares some operating system kernel code with the underlying Windows Server operating system. But other than that it is truly an autonomous operating system environment. One can use these containers to run an application without this application influencing the operating system environment (OSE), of the OSE influencing the application. System administrators can use containers to test new software without the risk of damaging any operating system components. Windows Server Containers are the next level in server virtualization and prove to be very useful. But here comes the tricky part: what about operating system environment licensing when you use Windows Server Containers?
Windows Server Container Licensing
The best place to look for Windows Server Container licensing rules are the Product Terms. These are the terms of use and are part of your Volume Licensing Agreement with Microsoft. When we take a look in the Product Terms we find this phrase:
3.4 Windows Server Containers with Windows Server 2016 Standard and Datacenter
Customer may use any number of OSEs instantiated as Windows Server Containers on the Licensed Server.
In plain English, when you have a Windows Server Standard of Windows Server Datacenter license assigned to the server you may use any number of Windows Server Container on that licensed server. So, containers come with the Windows Server license. Nothing additional to do, but … be careful when redistributing a container OS Image, there are some supplemental License Terms that apply:
Microsoft Software Supplemental License Terms
License: By requesting and using this Container OS Image for Windows containers, you acknowledge, understand and consent to the following Supplemental License Terms:
Container OS Image
Microsoft Corporation […] licenses this Container OS Image supplement to you. You are licensed to use this Supplement in conjunction with the underlying host operating system software solely to assist running the containers feature in the Host Software.[…].
Additional licensing requirement and/or use rights
Your use of the Supplement as specified in the preceding paragraph may result in the creation or modification of a container image (“Container Image”) that includes certain Supplement components. For clarity, a Container Image is separate and distinct from a virtual machine or virtual appliance image. Pursuant to these license terms, we grant you a restricted right to redistribute such Supplement components under the following conditions:
– (i) you may use the Supplement components only as used in, and as a part of your Container Image,
– (ii) you may use such Supplement components in your Container Image as long as you have significant primary functionality in your Container Image that is materially separate and distinct from the Supplement; and
– (iii) you agree to include these license terms (or similar terms required by us or a hoster) with your Container Image to properly license the possible use of the Supplement components by your end-users.
What does this mean? It means that when you use Windows Server Containers there are some components of Windows Server necessary to run the container. These components are licensed under the Windows Server license. When you redistribute your container – internally within your organization or to and end user when you are a hosting provider – you must include the supplemental license terms in your ‘license’ to ‘your end user’. You agree upon this supplemental License Terms when setting up a container. When you do not apply to these Supplemental License Terms you infringe the agreement and that is not a good thing to do.
Conclusion
When you have a Windows Server license assigned to your server you can setup and use Windows Server Containers at that licensed server without any additional agreement or any additional cost. But when you want to redistribute a Windows Server container as a container OS Image you must apply to what is stated in the Supplemental License Terms.
Do you want to know more about Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server Container licensing? Please contact us, we are happy to help.