Windows licensing & activation notes
### Windows licensing & activation notes
When you deploy a Windows Server on IllusionCloud, the operating system is not "free." Microsoft requires a valid licence for every deployment. As a hosting provider we use the Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) to provide licences on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis.
#### Licence types and pricing
Windows Server licences are sold per core and per edition. Standard edition is designed for typical workloads like web servers and application servers, while Datacenter edition includes rights for unlimited virtual machines and additional features like Storage Replica. Our SPLA pricing is based on the number of CPU cores on your server; for example, a two‑core Windows Server Standard licence costs roughly $20 per month, and a two‑core Datacenter licence is about $45 per month. Larger servers are licensed in 2‑core increments (e.g., an 8‑core server needs four Standard licences). The monthly licence charge will appear on your invoice.
Remote Desktop Services (RDS) licences are needed if more than two concurrent RDP sessions are required. These are also billed per user or per device each month. SQL Server and other Microsoft products have separate SPLA pricing; please contact sales for details.
If you prefer to use your own licence (BYOL), you are responsible for ensuring compliance with Microsoft’s terms and for providing your own product keys. BYOL licences cannot be combined with our SPLA activation.
#### Activation
Your Windows Server is automatically activated using our KMS (Key Management Service). Activation occurs during the first boot and the OS will contact our KMS host to obtain a product key. No action is required from you, and you should not attempt to activate Windows using retail/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 connectivity and the KMS port (TCP 1688) is open. If the issue persists, open a support ticket and our team will verify your activation status.
#### Upgrades and edition changes
You can upgrade or downgrade your Windows edition (e.g., from Standard to Datacenter) through our client area. Upgrades will require reinstallation and additional licence fees. Changing the number of CPU cores or adding RDS/SQL licences will alter your monthly billing. Downgrading is possible but may also require reinstallation.
#### Responsibility and compliance
By deploying Windows you agree to abide by Microsoft’s licensing terms. Do not run unlicensed copies or circumvent activation. IllusionCloud will periodically audit licence usage to ensure compliance. Failure to maintain a valid licence could lead to service suspension.