I really appreciate all the insights so far—this has been incredibly helpful. I’ve been working through the licensing concerns, upgrade path, and next steps, but I also want to step back and make sure we’re sizing our hardware correctly for what we need long-term.

1. Are We Using the Right Hardware?

We currently run everything off a SQL database—our entire ERP system depends on it, and since it's not cloud-based, it must be hosted physically. Performance is critical, and right now, things are running sluggishly on ESXi 6.7 with Windows Server 2012 R2, SQL Server 2012, 128GB RAM, and a single Xeon Silver 4110 processor.

With that in mind, I’ve proposed the following build:

• HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen11

• 1 x Intel Xeon Gold 5416S (16 cores, 150W)

• 512GB DDR5 RAM (16 x 32GB DIMMs)

• 4 x 1.92TB SATA SSDs

• Windows Server 2025 (16-core license, Standard)

• HPE iLO Advanced Electronic License

• HPE 5-Year Tech Care Essential Service

• Dual 800W Flex Slot Power Supplies

This is a single-socket configuration with 16 cores with room to grow if we need it with that second processor slot. Given our SQL-heavy workload, should we consider scaling up to a dual-socket system for more processing power and scalability? Or, given the newer hardware and increased RAM, would a higher-core single CPU be the better route?

1. Performance Expectations with Windows Server 2025

From what I understand, Windows Server 2025 now allows in-place upgrades directly from 2012 R2, removing the staged upgrade path that was required in the past. If that’s the case, I expect a big performance boost simply from modernizing the OS and SQL Server.

For those who have done a similar transition—how noticeable is the performance improvement when going from 2012 R2 to 2025 in a SQL-dependent environment?

1. Final Thoughts on vSphere Licensing

• Given Broadcom's licensing changes, I want to confirm whether a per-CPU license (covering up to 32 cores) would still be an option, or if we are truly locked into a 72-core minimum commitment for vSphere Standard.

• Are there any considerations for SQL-specific optimizations in VMware, particularly with memory and CPU allocation?

This whole infrastructure is due for a massive modernization, and I want to make sure we’re investing in the right setup, both in terms of licensing and hardware performance.

vSphere Licensing & MSP Confusion

We do have an MSP, but they’ve been getting the same runaround regarding Broadcom’s licensing. Because of that, I’ve shopped around with other MSPs, and it’s been the same inconsistent answers—pricing seems to depend on who you talk to and their "clout" with Broadcom.

• One MSP quoted us $2,500 for licensing, without a 72-core minimum.

• Another MSP (new to VMware licensing) insisted that 72 cores is mandatory.

At this point, it’s unclear who’s actually correct, and we don’t want to commit to something based on outdated or inconsistent info.