Licensing Windows Server 2019 Essentials?

Question

Windows Server

Good day. The question arose about the need to purchase a licensed version of Windows Server.
I plan to take the Essentials edition, which has a limit of 25 users.
Actually the question itself: one copy of Essentials has a limit of 25 users, if in the future we want to expand the organization, say, to 50 users, will it be possible to buy another copy of Essentials and also add it to the domain?
And the question is a little aside: does it make sense to raise a second domain controller on Linux? Will the 25 user limit remain?
Thanks in advance for your replies and help

Answer 1

1. No, you can't. Essentials has restrictions on the number of domain users (namely, accounts, not real users. When you try to create a new one, the snap will swear). In addition, if essentials is a domain controller, then it must be the only domain controller on the network and cannot have two-way relationships with other DCs. If the number of users increases, then your choice is to switch to the standard edition and older.
2. As a second linux controller can be used if the forest level does not exceed 2008r2, in the case of a domain on Samba. I can't say anything about FreeIPA. My opinion - or entirely on Linux to raise a directory service and RADIUS, or entirely AD. Full redundancy with a hybrid scheme is, I believe, unrealistic to achieve. Within the framework of the organization, I would not allow such perversions.

Answer 2

If my memory serves me right - essential is the ceiling of one domain controller and 25 users, and even without the ability to build trusts with other domains ....
Here is the mechanism for this restriction - "no words" or "technically impossible" - I won’t tell you. In the second case, it will be fun to store dismissed accounts ...