nate_pad
Member
This is a lot to take in. So if I get a Contabo VPS with Windows, I'm fine? I don't need to do anything?
Windows core licensing—does anyone actually count?
jane_ffm
Member
nate_pad said:
So if I get a Contabo VPS with Windows, I'm fine?
Yes. You pay the monthly price, they handle SPLA. Your only job is not pirating the software you install on top.
If you want to verify, their terms page mentions "Microsoft SPLA" explicitly. Most budget hosts bury it or omit it.
Single mode till I die 💀
armstrongvds said:
My Oracle ARM thing is basically VDS behavior at VPS price.
VLSC access requires active SA or Visual Studio sub, yeah? Not exactly beginner territory. The free tier is free but the license to use it legally isn't, unless you're sitting on an MSDN key from work.
Still good info. I assumed ARM Windows was still insider-only.
FyreJun
Member
dot8 said:
VLSC access requires active SA or Visual Studio sub, yeah?
Correct. I burn my annual Visual Studio Professional key, which includes Windows Server use rights. The ARM64 ISO showed up mid-2023, I think? Before that it was a scavenger hunt through Windows Update packages.
Not a general solution. But for the subset with keys already, it's a nice hardware option.
olya said:
If your provider charges $5/month for Windows, they are likely eating SPLA costs
Or they're running Hyper-V on a single licensed host and overselling like it's 2010. I've seen providers boot Windows from iSCSI with no local license tracking at all. Network boot everything, license nothing, pray.
Wouldn't touch it with a ten meter pole but it explains the pricing.
boot anything, anywhere, anytime