Microsoft SQL Licensing Guide

Making sure that your Microsoft SQL servers are properly licensed can be a major headache for most
companies and operation managers. This guide will give you a brief overview of the different options
available in regards to Microsoft SQL licensing for servers before you approach a Microsoft partner.
Let’s start off by getting acquainted with the two licensing models that Microsoft offers.

PUBLISHED 5 JULY 2019

SOROUSH POURHADI

Helping you make the most out of vScope

The SQL Licensing Models

Core-based

Under the Per Core licensing model, each server that runs SQL server software in a physical
operating system environment (OSE) must have a core license for every core in the processor.
The same logic is applied to the virtual cores in a virtual environment.

Server + CAL based

Under the Server+CAL licensing model (CAL standing for Client Access License), each OSE,
running a SQL Server software or any of its components must have a SQL Server license
assigned to the physical server hosting the OSE. Furthermore each device and/or user accessing
the SQL server or any of its components need a CAL.

Choosing a SQL licensing model: Per Core or Server + CAL?

Deciding on a licensing model can be a difficult task as both options have their own set of
benefits. Core-based licensing is usually the only choice when SQL servers are being accessed
externally (outside the company network). That’s because the Server + CAL model would
require your organization to purchase a user/device CAL for every external user/device accessing
the SQL server. This is essentially an almost impossible task to keep track of.
Moreover, core-based licensing is usually better for large companies as it is easier to manage.
Imagine a large global organization with users and devices across the world. They might have a
hard time tracking the number of CALs needed for their SQL servers. Plus, keep in mind that the
number of employees and SQL servers usually don’t grow in a linear fashion. Therefore core-
based licensing is generally cheaper for large organizations.

In comparison, the Server + CAL model might feel a bit complex, but it’s easy to manage for
smaller organizations. Furthermore, Server + CAL licensing usally ends up being substantially
cheaper for smaller organizations.

That’s a lot to keep in mind when taking a decision, but don’t worry, I’ve got just what you
need! Just follow the decision tree below and see where you end up, simple as that!
Note that there are exceptions and that complex licensing scenarios may arise. For more detailed
information about the licensing models, read more over at Microsoft’s SQL Server Licensing
Guide (2017) or contact an official Microsoft partner.

But heres the best part:

The power of vScope and the free licensing packs can make licensing tasks easier than ever
before! For those with the core-based model, figuring out the number of cores that are running
MS SQL software can be a hard task, especially for newcomers! But with an automatic
inventorying tool, such as vScope, that’s not something you need to worry about.

With vScope you just need to open up the “MS SQL Core Documentation for Machines” report
that’s included in every vScope installation. Not only will it show you all the machines with MS
SQL software, but you can instantly see their CPU cores. You can find this report in vScope by
either searching the Omnisearch:

or by browsing reports in Table Explorer under the section Licensing:

But all of my “Server + CAL” users don’t worry, vScope has something for you as well! Even
though some form of manual documentation over users/devices is required to maintain
compliance under the Server + CAL model, vScope can remove a bunch of tasks from your
table. The reports offered in the MS SQL Licensing pack quickly gives you all the information
about your database systems.

Minimize your reliance on others with vScope’s report packs.

Microsoft Server SQL Editions and Features

Now that we’ve covered the licensing models we need to talk about the different editions.
Microsoft SQL servers are primarily offered in two editions, Standard and Enterprise. You can
observe and compare all the differences between editions in Microsoft’s SQL Server Guide. But
generally speaking, the Enterprise edition offers several advanced functions not included in the
Standard edition, such as Advanced Data Encryption. In addition to these functions, the
Enterprise edition allows an unlimited amount of cores to be utilized without a cost penalty. So
when choosing an edition, you should once again take a look at your organization’s needs and
requirements.

Microsoft also offers an Express and Developer editions. In comparison to the Standard edition,
the Express edition is free but offers a very limited experience. Then we have the Developer
edition that allows one to build, test, and demonstrate applications in a non-production
environment. But be careful, you’re at risk of receiving serious fines if it is used in a production
environment.

When it comes to editions a common problem is documenting which editions one has and where
they are installed. But once again our fantastic MS SQL Licensing pack comes into play, with
the “Version Installations of MS SQL Server” report that’s included, you can easily check what
editions and version of Microsoft SQL servers you have installed as well as their occurrence and
location.

Keep in mind that…

2-packs
Core licenses are sold in 2-packs, with a minimum requirement of (4) core licenses per processor
or per VM. In other words, if you have an SQL server running on 2 cores you have the option of
adding 2 additional cores without a cost penalty. The “MS SQL Server with under-utilized CPU”
report in vScope lists all the servers in your environment that this applies to.

Software Assurance
Organizations with highly virtualized environments might benefit from using the Enterprise
editions with Software Assurance. Which gives you the right to run unlimited VMs on physical
machines that have all their cores licensed. Furthermore, it also gives you upgrade rights to
future SQL versions released during your agreement. Read more about Software Assurance and
its additional benefits and features on Microsoft’s Licensing Page.

Mixing CALs
Under the Server + CAL model, you have the option to license all your devices or users but there
is also the option of mixing device & user CALs. However, its generally not recommended to
mix CAL types as this raises the complexity of the issue at hand.

Virtualization + MS SQL Licensing is a mess

Microsoft loves their money, and the latest trend of moving databases to virtual environments is
hurting their bottom line. Therefore they’ve implemented a bunch of exceptions for virtual
environments. If you’re running your databases in a virtual environment it’s best to tread
carefully. Above all, make sure that you have a clear understanding of the relationships between
your hosts, VMs, and the MS SQL software they are running……. or just use vScope and the
advanced functions offered for free in the MS SQL licensing pack!

Summary

Hopefully you feel a little bit more confident when it comes to MS SQL licensing after reading
our guide, if you have any further question about our report packs or vScope in general just ask
away in the chat to the right or send an email to [email protected].

https://www.vscope.net/blog/microsofts-sql-licensing-guide/
Guide to SQL Server Editions and Licensing
Explore the available editions of Microsoft SQL Server

TechSoup -
June 13, 2016

Learn about the available editions of Microsoft SQL Server and the licensing requirements.

Get SQL Server now

SQL Server is relational database server software offering tools for data storage, management,
analysis, and reporting. It can be used as a back-end database server for internal applications or
for powering a dynamic website.

You can use this guide to help you find the SQL Server edition and licenses appropriate for your
organization's needs.

 Editions
 Licensing
 Upgrading
 SQL Server Products Available Through TechSoup
 Additional Resources

Editions

Microsoft offers SQL Server through TechSoup in the Standard and Enterprise editions.
Standard Edition is most suitable for medium-size charities and organizations. Enterprise Edition
is most suitable for large organizations.

 Standard Edition offers basic database, reporting, and analytics capabilities. Microsoft offers this
edition under the server/CAL and core-based licensing models.
 Enterprise Edition contains all of the basic features of Standard Edition plus tools for analyzing
business and financial data, mission-critical applications, and data warehousing features.
Microsoft offers this edition only under the core-based licensing model.

For more information on SQL Server editions, see the basic summary, full comparison, and new
feature comparison.

Licensing

Below are some of the major licensing requirements for SQL Server.

 The core-based licensing products offered by TechSoup provide licenses for two cores. SQL
Server with core-based licensing requires a minimum of four core licenses to function. In order
to use these products, you will need to obtain enough copies to cover the cores in the
processors you plan to use with SQL Server.
 The server/CAL licensing products offered by TechSoup provide a single server license for a
physical, virtual, or cloud-based server. SQL Server with server/CAL licensing requires each user
or device that accesses the licensed server to have a client access license (CAL). It is most
appropriate for administrators who know the exact number of users and devices that will
connect to the server.

For more information on licensing, including details on licensing virtual machines, see the SQL
Server 2016 Licensing Datasheet (PDF). You can find even more detailed licensing information
information in the Microsoft Product Terms document (PDF).

Upgrading

For information about upgrading from previous versions of SQL Server, see the SQL Server
Supported Version and Edition Upgrades.

If you have active Software Assurance for your SQL Server licenses, you don't need to request
the new version of SQL Server through TechSoup. You can simply download the new version
through the VLSC to upgrade, and it won't count as an additional title toward your two-year title
limit.

CALs work for the version equal to or earlier than their server software. They must be upgraded
for use with newer server software. If you upgrade to the next version of SQL Server, you will
also need to use Software Assurance to upgrade the CALs or request new CALs. CALs offered
through TechSoup are always for the currently offered version.

https://www.techsoup.org/support/articles-and-how-tos/guide-to-sql-server-editions-and-
licensing

An Overview of SQL Server 2016 Licensing

The different SQL Server 2016 editions each have different licensing models.

Michael Otey | Sep 29, 2016

Licensing is always one of the more confusing aspects of any product, and SQL Server
2016 is no exception to that rule. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the SQL Server 2016
editions and licensing models, as well as examine how licensing works in virtualization and
high-availability scenarios.

SQL Server 2016 Editions and Licensing Models

The different SQL Server 2016 editions each have different licensing models. You can see an
overview of the editions and their licensing in the following listing.

 SQL Server 2016 Enterprise Edition – Core licensing only

 SQL Server 2016 Standard Edition – Core or Server + CAL  (Client Access License)
licensing
 SQL Server 2016 Express Edition -- Free
 SQL Server 2016 Developer Edition -- Free
 SQL Server 2016 Evaluation Edition – 180 day trial

Before jumping into the Enterprise and Standard edition licensing, there are a couple of
important things to understand about the free Developer and Express editions. First, the
Developer edition has the same feature set as the Enterprise edition. It is completely free and can
be run on any number of devices, but it cannot be used for production workloads. You can get it
at SQL Server 2016 Developer edition. In contrast, the SQL Server 2016 Express editions can be
used for production workloads, but they are limited to a single CPU and four cores, 1 GB of
RAM (4 GB for the SQL Server 2016 Express with Advanced Services for Reporting Services).
There is also a 10 GB per databases limitation.

Core and Server Licensing

The SQL Server 2016 Standard edition provides the option for Server + CAL licensing. Under
this model, each server running SQL Server software requires a server license, and every user
and/or device accessing SQL Server requires a SQL Server CAL. The open licensing cost is
$931 for the server and $209 per CAL. Each SQL Server CAL allows access to multiple licensed
SQL Servers, including older editions. The Server licensing model makes sense when you know
how many users/devices will connect to the server.

Core licensing is an option for the SQL Server 2016 Standard edition and is a requirement for the
SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition. Core-based licensing is appropriate when you don’t know
how many users/devices will be connecting to your SQL Server system. A minimum of four core
licenses is required for each physical processor on the server. Additional licenses are purchased
in packs of two. There is no need for CALs with Core licensing. If you are using the SQL Server
2016 Enterprise edition on a physical server, you must license all of the cores in that system.
Core licensing has an open price of $14,256 per core in two core packs.

For more information, go to:

SQL_Server_2016_Licensing_Guide_EN-US.pdf

and

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/cloud-platform/sql-server-pricing

Licensing and Virtualization

There are two primary virtualization licensing options in SQL Server 2016. You can license
individual VMs, and you have the option to license for maximum virtualization. With SQL
Server 2016 Standard and Enterprise edition core licensing scenarios, it’s important to
understand that one virtual CPU (vCPU) equals one core license. For Server + CAL licensing,
one VM equals one server, and all users/device that connect to that VM will need CALs.

The maximum virtualization option is suitable in higher-density situations. For the SQL Server
2016 Enterprise edition, if you license all of the cores in the virtualization host and cover the
license with Software Assurance (SA), then you can run multiple virtual SQL Server systems--up
to the number of core licenses that you have purchased.

Licensing for High Availability

High-availability scenarios with AlwaysOn Failover Clustering and AlwaysOn Availability

Groups can also affect licensing requirements.  Servers licensed with SA coverage allow you to
implement passive servers used for failover. These passive servers do not need a separate SQL
Server license as long as they do not perform any production work. If they are running SQL
Server workloads, performing reports or backups, then they would require a SQL Server license.

You can learn more about SQL Server 2016 licensing at SQL Server licensing.

HPE and Microsoft are the underwriters of this article.

https://www.itprotoday.com/business-resources/overview-sql-server-2016-licensing

*****
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Licensing Guide

This Licensing Guide is for people who want to gain a basic understanding of how Microsoft
SQL Server 2016 database software is licensed through Microsoft Commercial Licensing
programs.

It includes:

 SQL Server 2016 Editions

 How SQL Server 2016 License Are Sold
o Server and Cloud Enrolment
 SQL Server 2016 Licensing Models
o Core-Based Licensing
o Server + CAL Licensing
 Licensing SQL Server 2016 Components
 Licensing SQL Server 2016 in a Virtualized Environment
o Licensing Individual Virtual Machines
o Licensing for Maximum Virtualization
 Licensing SQL Server for the Analytics Platform System
 Advanced Licensing Scenarios and Detailed Examples
o Licensing SQL Server for High Availability
o Licensing SQL Server for Application Mobility
o Licensing SQL Server in a Multiplexed Application Environment
o Licensing SQL Server for Non-Production Use
 Additional Product Information
o SQL Server 2016 Migration Options for Software Assurance Customers
o Software Assurance Benefits
o Additional Product Licensing Resources

Download the Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Licensing Guide

Microsoft SQL Server 2016 is used with Microsoft Dynamics GP. See Microsoft Dynamics GP
system server requirements. To discuss with CAL Business Solutions contact 860-485-0910 x4
or [email protected]

By CAL Business Solutions, Connecticut Microsoft Dynamics GP and Acumatica Partner,

www.calszone.com

https://www.calszone.com/2017/09/microsoft-sql-server-2016-licensing-guide/