The SQL 2008 to 2012 upgrade

[chazzy2501]

It seems it time to move database engines again, I'll be going from SQL2008 express to 2012 express.. or.

 

anyone know how much a full SQL instance costs through an EES agreement? is it worth it?

 

740 pupils at the school.

 

does it affect login times to sims or just reports?

[Boredguy]

SQL is licensed either per core count (with the minimum being 4) or by Server & CALS.

 

I just got a quote last week for our own SQL upgrade for SIMS, and the 2 Core license for SQL Standard was around £210 on EES, so that's a minimum of £420 on this licensing model.

 

SQL Express is limited in the system resources it can use I believe, but SQL Express 2012 has increased the maximum database size upto 10Gb, so you may notice a speed increase.

[3s-gtech]

Exactly the same cost here, £420. Worked out slightly cheaper this year by core, where Server+CALs was cheaper before.

[chazzy2501]

erk... over 5 years that's another £2100 spent on SIMS. I think we'll put up with the slowness.

 

EDIT: I'm actually annoyed the documentation now recommends that we run full SQL. (before it hasn't) of course we can use the express but any performance issues and they can shrug their shoulders. Hiding the fact that SIMS has just become more expensive

Edited May 20, 2014 by chazzy2501
Annoyed

[3s-gtech]

Depends - how many cores has your SIMS server got? Get some quotes in - you will have far fewer FTE staff than us in which case the pricing may be significantly less for server+CAL. At least you'll have the documents necessary to decide.

[Boredguy]

SIMS can be expensive to keep running to their recommendations, but it does depend on how much your using it. We have always been advised to use the full version even since it went to SQL, so it's something we have to factor in.

When we moved to 2008 R2, we purchased perpetual licenses for the 2 processors as it worked out cheaper.

Now we're going to tag our £900 bill onto our yearly EES renewal and that covers us as well for when SQL 2014 is supported (which should be next year if we're lucky)

[steveg]

We're planning to skip 2012. There is a 6 month overlap in support for 2008 r2 and 2014. We purchased 2008 r2 outright, and will probably look at doing the same for 2014.

 

Steve

[chazzy2501]

my EES renewal is in 45 days, is it advisable to use a trail version of full 2012 until I get a license?

[woody]

As far as I was aware, you can install the full version and add it to your next EES order? A bit like if you get extra FTEs, you don't add them until renewal.

[Boredguy]

Think you can add it to your renewal at any point. I'm just trying to keep my headaches down by waiting till that point since I know the prices won't alter drastically in the next 2 months.

 

Check with your MS license supplier.

[Boredguy]

As far as I was aware, you can install the full version and add it to your next EES order? A bit like if you get extra FTEs, you don't add them until renewal.

 

Not sure this is quite correct. Yes you can add additional instances of Office or Windows upgrade during the year, but SQL server is a separate component and surely needs to be licensed when you want to use it... Otherwise I'm installing SQL 2014 now

[matt40k]

is it advisable to use a trail version of full 2012 until I get a license?

 

Install express, then upgrade the edition to standard when you've got the license, it's a 5 min job.

[chazzy2501]

Install express, then upgrade the edition to standard when you've got the license, it's a 5 min job.

 

That is great news! Woohoo...

 

is it enter a key and reboot?

[fiza]

When is the cut-off to upgrade? I would guess before the Sims Summer upgrade?

[matt40k]

That is great news! Woohoo...

 

is it enter a key and reboot?

 

Kinda, run the installer on the iso\disc, left hand menu pick upgrade edition, usual next, next, next kinda thing. Key is pre-filled in the disc\iso image too. Don't think it needs a reboot either.