My question is about which Windows Operating Systems to use for virtual desktops on a esxi home server for family use (gaming & productive): Windows 10 Pro, or Windows Server 2019, or other?
I planned to use Windows 10 Pro, as I have a number of licences. I have not yet activated the Windows 10 Pro licenses as I am unsure if they will work in this scenario. Alternatively, should I use Windows Server 2019 for each of the desktops as this OS seems to allow accessing the VM remotely from a server.
The server: Xeon E-2278G, 128Gb memory, NVMe storage, ESXi 6.7 u3, OmniOS/Napp-it.
3 pass-through GPU's (iGPU UHDP620 / Quadro P620 / Quadro P4000) tested running all 3 concurrently on separate Windows 10 Pro VMs. connecting using Remote Desktop, RealVNC, Moonlight and Parsec.
Server VMs: Windows Server 2019 Standard (1:AD,DNS,DHCP / 2:File server)
Desktop VMs for remote access:
- VM1: iGPU for Emby & Squeezebox - always on
- VM2A: Quadro P4000, primary gaming (Nvidia Shield, laptop etc) or,
- VM2B: Quadro P4000, shared with 2A for productive use (no games)
- VM3A: Quadro P620, secondary gaming (from laptop, FireTV) or,
- VM3B: Quadro P620, shared with 3A for productive use (no games)
- VM4A: no GPU, for BMS (KNX) configuration software - on when required
- VM4B: for testing etc. - on when required
No more than 4 of the above VMs to be powered on at any one time.
If Windows 10 Pro, I have enough licences for each of the above (7); if Windows Server, how many licences would I need? A standard license allows for 2 VM's, with 4 concurrent VMs being used, could I get away with 2 WS licences?:
- WS1A: VM1
- WS1B: VM4A/4B
- WS2A: VM2A/2B
- WS2B: VM3A/3B
or would I need 3:
- WS1A: VM1
- WS1B: VM6
- WS2A: VM2A
- WS2B: VM2B
- WS3A: VM3A
- WS3B: VM3B
I planned to use Windows 10 Pro, as I have a number of licences. I have not yet activated the Windows 10 Pro licenses as I am unsure if they will work in this scenario. Alternatively, should I use Windows Server 2019 for each of the desktops as this OS seems to allow accessing the VM remotely from a server.
The server: Xeon E-2278G, 128Gb memory, NVMe storage, ESXi 6.7 u3, OmniOS/Napp-it.
3 pass-through GPU's (iGPU UHDP620 / Quadro P620 / Quadro P4000) tested running all 3 concurrently on separate Windows 10 Pro VMs. connecting using Remote Desktop, RealVNC, Moonlight and Parsec.
Server VMs: Windows Server 2019 Standard (1:AD,DNS,DHCP / 2:File server)
Desktop VMs for remote access:
- VM1: iGPU for Emby & Squeezebox - always on
- VM2A: Quadro P4000, primary gaming (Nvidia Shield, laptop etc) or,
- VM2B: Quadro P4000, shared with 2A for productive use (no games)
- VM3A: Quadro P620, secondary gaming (from laptop, FireTV) or,
- VM3B: Quadro P620, shared with 3A for productive use (no games)
- VM4A: no GPU, for BMS (KNX) configuration software - on when required
- VM4B: for testing etc. - on when required
No more than 4 of the above VMs to be powered on at any one time.
If Windows 10 Pro, I have enough licences for each of the above (7); if Windows Server, how many licences would I need? A standard license allows for 2 VM's, with 4 concurrent VMs being used, could I get away with 2 WS licences?:
- WS1A: VM1
- WS1B: VM4A/4B
- WS2A: VM2A/2B
- WS2B: VM3A/3B
or would I need 3:
- WS1A: VM1
- WS1B: VM6
- WS2A: VM2A
- WS2B: VM2B
- WS3A: VM3A
- WS3B: VM3B
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