SQL server 2014 standard core licensing

[crwardell]

Hi All,

 

I've been pondering on this one for a while. I'm just trying to figure out if I am appropriately licensed or not.

 

I have a virtual server with server 2012 r2 installed on it and using 2 x SQL 2014 standard core licences.

The virtual server has 4 x processors allocated to it.

 

My question is am I appropriately licensed to use SQL on the virtual server or not?

 

Thanks for any input. :-)

[coldhand]

You would be classed as unlicensed.

 

In the Per Core licensing framework for SQL 2014, the allocated core per VM is what needs to be purchased. For example, if your VM has 6 cores allocated, you need 6 core licenses. The minimum requirement however for any VM, is 4 core license. So in your scenario, a 2 core allocation for the VM, would still require you to purchase 4 core license.

 

 

To quote from Microsoft licensing guide:

When licensing individual VMs under the Per Core licensing model, all virtual cores supporting the VM must be licensed, with a minimum of four core licenses required. No add itional CALs are required. For licensing purposes, a virtual core maps to a core (when hyper-threading is turned off) or a hardware thread (when hyper-threading is on).

 

Depending on your agreement (we have EES agreement), for us, the core license comes as packs of two: (7NQ-00302) SQLSvrStdCore ALNG LicSAPk MVL 2Lic CoreLic

Edited March 30, 2017 by coldhand

[KK20]

It does depend on your sql licence. It might come with 2x cores per license (each SQL license we purchase comes with 2x cores so purchasing 2x "2 core" will be licensed in your case). At least in VMs you only have to license the CPUs allocated, if it was a physical server then you have to license ALL cores now!

[crwardell]

It does depend on your sql licence. It might come with 2x cores per license (each SQL license we purchase comes with 2x cores so purchasing 2x "2 core" will be licensed in your case). At least in VMs you only have to license the CPUs allocated, if it was a physical server then you have to license ALL cores now!

This is the type of licensing we currently have, so thankfully it looks like we are licensed. Thanks for clarifying.

Cheers

You would be classed as unlicensed.

 

In the Per Core licensing framework for SQL 2014, the allocated core per VM is what needs to be purchased. For example, if your VM has 6 cores allocated, you need 6 core licenses. The minimum requirement however for any VM, is 4 core license. So in your scenario, a 2 core allocation for the VM, would still require you to purchase 4 core license.

 

 

To quote from Microsoft licensing guide:

 

 

Depending on your agreement (we have EES agreement), for us, the core license comes as packs of two: (7NQ-00302) SQLSvrStdCore ALNG LicSAPk MVL 2Lic CoreLic