Windows Server (bring your own licence)

Last updated: 26 September 2026

In short: CoAI Host does not sell or include Windows licences. Windows Server 2025 is installed as Microsoft's 180-day evaluation. You may use it only if you hold your own eligible Windows Server licence, and you must convert and activate the evaluation with that licence within 180 days. The operating system option itself costs nothing extra.

1. Who may use it

You need your own eligible licence. You may run Windows Server on our servers only if you hold a valid Windows Server licence that allows use on a third-party (shared) hosting provider: for example core licences with active Software Assurance, or a subscription licence, used under Microsoft's Flexible Virtualization Benefit. The Flexible Virtualization Benefit does not apply to Microsoft's "Listed Providers" (Alibaba, Amazon, Google and Microsoft); CoAI Host is not one of them.
You are the licensee. The licence must be yours (or your organisation's), and you are responsible for complying with its terms, including licensing enough cores for your server and any client access licences (CALs) or Remote Desktop Services CALs your use requires. If you are unsure whether your licence qualifies, ask your Microsoft licensing partner before you order.
We provide no licences, product keys or Microsoft support. We cannot sell, lend, activate or sublicense Windows or any other Microsoft product.
After the evaluation, unlicensed use is not permitted. Using Windows Server without a valid licence after the evaluation period breaches our Terms of Service and may lead to suspension of the service.

2. What you get

Edition: Windows Server 2025 Standard Evaluation with Desktop Experience (full graphical desktop), English, with the VirtIO drivers and the QEMU guest agent installed.
Plans: available on CoAI S4 and CoAI S8 only (8 GB RAM or more). Choose "Windows Server 2025 (BYOL)" as the operating system when you order, or reinstall to it from the client area. There is no extra charge for the operating system option.
Login: user Administrator, with the password shown in the client area and in your welcome email. Connect with Remote Desktop (RDP) to your server's IP address on port 3389 (Network Level Authentication is required). The first boot runs Windows' setup, which can take a few minutes before Remote Desktop accepts connections.
Automatic setup: on first boot the server gets its IP address, DNS servers, hostname (Windows uses the first 15 characters) and Administrator password from our platform, and drive C: is extended to the full disk size of your plan.
Evaluation period: 180 days from installation. When the evaluation expires, Windows shows a warning and shuts the server down every hour until you activate it with your own licence. Reinstalling a server deletes all of its data.
Browser console: the noVNC console in the client area works for Windows too, for example if Remote Desktop is blocked by a firewall rule.

3. Convert and activate

The evaluation edition cannot be activated directly. Convert it to the retail edition that matches your licence first, then activate it. Run the commands in an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell (Run as administrator) over Remote Desktop or the browser console.

Optional: list the editions this installation can be converted to:
```
DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions
```
Convert the edition with your own product key (use ServerDatacenter instead of ServerStandard for a Datacenter licence):
```
DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
```
The conversion takes a while. Restart the server when DISM asks you to (it may restart more than once).
After the restart, install your key and activate:
```
slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
slmgr /ato
```
If your organisation activates through its own KMS host, point the server at it instead of installing a retail key, then activate:
```
slmgr /skms your-kms-host.example.com
slmgr /ato
```
Check the result: slmgr /dlv should show your edition and "License Status: Licensed".

Convert before you promote the server to a domain controller. An evaluation installation that is a domain controller cannot be converted; you would have to demote it first. Activation needs outbound internet access (or access to your KMS host).

4. Security

Remote Desktop is reachable from the whole internet and is constantly scanned by attackers. Please:

use a strong, unique password and change the initial Administrator password after your first login;
restrict Remote Desktop to your own IP addresses in Windows Defender Firewall, for example in PowerShell (replace the address with yours):
```
Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Remote Desktop" -RemoteAddress 203.0.113.10
```
If you lock yourself out, use the browser console in the client area to undo the rule;
keep Windows Update switched on and install updates promptly;
open only the ports you need. When the server is delivered, only Remote Desktop (TCP 3389) accepts inbound connections. Outbound email on TCP port 25 is blocked on all servers, as described in the Terms of Service.

You are responsible for the security of your server and everything that runs on it, as for any server under our Acceptable Use Policy.

5. Support scope

We support what we provide: the virtual server, its network and IP address, the client area (start, stop, reboot, reinstall, password, browser console) and the delivery of the Windows image described above. We do not provide support for Windows configuration, applications, licensing, conversion or activation, or any other Microsoft product. For those, use the support included in your Microsoft licensing agreement or your IT provider.

6. Questions

Questions about this offer can be sent to support@coaiwork.com or submitted as a support ticket in the client area. Microsoft, Windows and Windows Server are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies; CoAI Host is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.