SQL DBA Guru

Licensing model for SQL Server 2008

SQL Server 2008 is available under three licensing models:

• Server plus device client access license (CAL). Requires a license for the computer running the Microsoft server product, as well as CALs for each client device.
• Server plus user client access license (CAL). Requires a license for the computer running the Microsoft server product, as well as CALs for each user.
• Processor license. Requires a single license for each CPU in the operating system environment running SQL Server. This license includes unlimited client device access.

Explanation:

SQL Server 2008 Server PLUS CAL Licensing

SQL Server 2008 offers separate Server licenses (in Workgroup, Standard and Enterprise editions) in conjunction with per device or per user client access licenses (CALs).

When this is best suited: Server plus CAL licenses are useful to customers using SQL Server in non-Web-based scenarios.

Server License. A Server license (for Workgroup, Standard, or Enterprise editions) is required for every operating system environment on which that edition of SQL Server software or any of its components (for example, Analysis Services) is running.

Device CAL. A SQL Server Device CAL is required in order for a device (for example, a PC, workstation, terminal, PDA, mobile phone, and so on) to access or use the services or functionality of Microsoft SQL Server.

When this is best suited: The Server plus device CAL model will likely be the more cost-effective choice if there are multiple users per device (for example, in a call center).

 User CAL. A SQL Server User CAL is required in order for a user (employee, customer, partner, and so on) to access or use the services or functionality of Microsoft SQL Server.

 When this is best suited: The Server plus user CAL model will likely be more cost effective if there are multiple devices per user (for example, a user who has a desktop PC, laptop, PDA, and so forth).

 A CAL is not software; it is a legal document granting a device or user access to server software.

• A single device CAL grants access to multiple servers for one device (CAL must be same version as latest version of any of the servers).
• A single user CAL grants access to multiple servers for one user.

SQL SERVER 2008 Processor Licensing

Processor License. A Processor License is required for each processor installed on each operating system environment running SQL Server or any of its components (for example, Analysis Services). It includes access for an unlimited number of users or devices to connect from either inside or outside the firewall. Customers do not need to purchase additional client access licenses (CALs) when licensed under the per processor model.

Processor licenses are available in Enterprise, Standard, Web and Workgroup editions and offer more simplicity for certain scenarios.

 SQL Server on a cluster:

In case of SQL Server on a cluster, the passive server does not need a license, provided that the number of processors in the passive server is equal or less than those of the active server. The passive server can take the duties of the active server for 30 days. Afterward, it must be licensed accordingly.

The passive server does not require a license given that no queries are being executed against it. But if any queries are being run against snapshot reporting, then it would require a license.

Multicore:

For multicore processors, Microsoft charges the same amount per processor, regardless of how many cores are in the processor. So, either it’s a single core, dual core, or four core processor; in each of these scenarios, a single processor license is required for SQL Server, unlike Oracle and IBM licensing requirements.

Business intelligence / components in additional servers:

• When the SQL Server is running with all of its components in one server: only one license is required.
• When the database is running in one server, analysis services in a second one, and reporting services in a third one :  In this case, three server licenses are required.