Windows licensing & activation notes

IllusionCloud provides Windows Server licences via the Microsoft Service Provider Licence Agreement (SPLA), or you may bring your own licence (BYOL). This guide explains the different licence types, how activation works, how to upgrade editions, and what responsibilities you have to remain compliant.

Licence types and pricing

- **SPLA licences:** Windows Server licences are supplied on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis. You pay monthly per CPU core and per edition. For example, a two‑core Standard licence costs around $20 per month and a two‑core Datacenter licence costs about $45 per month. Larger servers require additional licences in two‑core increments.
- **BYOL (bring your own licence):** You may supply your own retail or volume licence keys, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with Microsoft's terms. BYOL licences cannot be combined with our SPLA activation.
- **Additional licences:** Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and other Microsoft products (SQL Server, Office, etc.) are billed per user or per device each month. Contact sales for pricing.

Activation

IllusionCloud automatically activates Windows using our Key Management Service (KMS) during the first boot. The operating system contacts our KMS host to obtain a product key; no action is required from you. Do not attempt to activate Windows using MAK keys or third‑party tools. If you see messages such as "Windows is not activated" or error code 0xC004F074, ensure the server has internet access and that TCP port 1688 is open. If the issue persists, open a support ticket.

Upgrades and edition changes

You can upgrade or downgrade your Windows edition (e.g., from Standard to Datacenter) via the client area. Upgrades require reinstalling the OS and purchasing additional licences. Changing the number of CPU cores or adding RDS/SQL licences will alter your monthly billing. Downgrading is possible but may require a complete reinstall.

Responsibility and compliance

By deploying Windows on IllusionCloud services you agree to abide by Microsoft's licensing terms. Do not run unlicensed copies or attempt to circumvent activation. IllusionCloud may periodically audit licence usage to ensure compliance. Failure to maintain a valid licence could lead to service suspension.