How does sql server licensing work

If you have Software Assurance, then you are covered to upgrade your SQL Server edition, if not then you will have to purchase more licenses.

Check to make sure what sort of changes have occurred since you last updated SQL Server, since depending on how old your SQL Server is, you may find yourself confronted with new features, new definitions, and new licensing metrics. Do some research into the new SQL Server model you are planning on upgrading to and familiarize yourself on any differences the new edition has compared to your old model. Lastly, decide whether, this time around with your new SQL Server, if Software Assurance is something that interests your company.

SQL Servers are so thoroughly implemented throughout the software environments of organizations that a simple mistake could easily be scaled up to mean millions of dollars in software auditing fines.

It is easy to get overwhelmed and to simply let your SQL Server sales rep handle it and tell you what you need to purchase and how many. Of course, just because they know their way around their CALs, cores, and sockets does not mean they know what is best for your business. Only you can answer that question. Physical Server: the actual wires-and-bolts physical hardware system. Physical Processor: the physical chip that is housed in a socket within the physical server that contains one or more cores.

Physical Core: Something like a mini server inside the server, a physical core is a smaller processing unit within the physical processor of the server, and are found in groups of two. Web edition purchases can only be made through a SPLA. Core Based Licensing. This license allows for an unlimited number of users and devices to be connected to a server. You will need a core license for every core in the processor.

You need at least four core licenses for each physical processor on the server core licenses are sold in packs of two. The SQL Server or any of its components needs to be licensed.

You would need two separate licenses for that scenario. Anything that is installed on the physical machine you need to have a license for.

The same logic is applied when using virtual cores in virtual environments. Ideal for larger companies, since it is easy to manage. Imagine having an international corporation with tens of thousands of employees, keeping track of who needed what CAL would be exhausting. It also can prove cheaper for larger organizations, especially if your users far outnumber the cores you have. SQL Server product page. SQL Server licensing guide. Introduction to per core licensing and basic definitions.

SQL Server Build intelligent, mission-critical applications using a scalable, hybrid database platform that has everything built in—from in-memory performance and advanced security to in-database analytics.

SQL Server site. About SQL Server SQL Server is offered in two main commercial editions to accommodate the unique feature, performance and price requirements of organizations and individuals: Enterprise Edition is ideal for applications requiring mission critical in-memory performance, security and high availability.

Standard Edition delivers fully featured database capabilities for mid-tier applications and data marts. SQL Server Offerings SQL Server is offered in two main editions to accommodate the unique feature, performance and price requirements of organizations and individuals: Enterprise Edition is ideal for applications requiring mission critical in-memory performance, security and high availability. Customers who require a massively parallel processing data warehouse have access to a parallel data warehouse through their Enterprise Edition core licenses with Software Assurance.

Parallel data warehouse is part of the Microsoft Analytics Platform System. Editions sold in the per-core licensing model and Big Data Nodes are sold as 2 core packs. Visio See More "Close Cart". Server See More "Close Cart". Comparisons See More "Close Cart". Savings See More "Close Cart". Shopping Cart. Cart 0.

How is SQL Server licensed? Is my SQL Server licensed? With this report you can determine your SQL Server version and edition, service pack level and license type. How much does Server cost?

Does each SQL instance require a license? Yes, this does mean higher licensing costs — you'll need to license SQL Server Enterprise Edition at the hardware host level, and then you can pack in as many VMs as possible into the host. How much does a database server cost?

What is Microsoft SQL license?