You can now deploy Cloud VPS instances from Windows Server 2022 Datacenter and Windows Server 2025 Datacenter templates. Evaluation editions of both are available alongside the licensed templates, so you can test before you commit to licensing.
The templates appear in the OS list when you create a VM or reinstall an existing one. Filter for “Windows” and pick the edition you need.
Why the evaluation editions matter
Moving a Windows workload to new infrastructure involves questions a spec sheet cannot answer. Will the application behave? Do the drivers play nicely? Does performance hold up under your actual load? The evaluation templates let you answer all of that on a real VM before any license money changes hands.
They also make staging cheap. Spin up an eval instance, rehearse the deployment, and tear it down when you are done.
Bring your own license
If you already hold Windows Server licensing, the evaluation editions are the natural on-ramp: validate compatibility on an eval template, then apply your own license when you move to production. For everything you need to know about running Windows on our platform, see the Windows Cloud VPS page.
