NEw Sims Server and SQL

[rama1712]

HI we are looking at getting a new local sims server (NOt interested in SIMS 8)

 

I have a couple of server specs in mind for example

 

•Dual Xeon X5650 2.66GHz 6-Core CPUs

•64GB Ram or 128

•DVD +/- RW

•6 x 1TB 3.5

 

What i want to know is Licesneing the SQL.

 

With the above spec what are the costs

We have not had to do this before as it was done bu or LA several years ago and

 

I am trying to get a final cost together so that i can go to SMT and request the money.

 

Any help, Advice Guidedance much appriceatied.

 

We currently Have a MS OVS agreement. Can this be added on to cover SQL, I am looking at adding on Server element when we renew this year so if you can add sql would that be better value.??

[3s-gtech]

You can add SQL to your OVS-ES. I can't remember the licensing model for SQL now - I think it may be per-physical core, then you can choose between CALs or a complete license. Separate server and CALs usually works out cheaper (you'll need your FTE count for CALs).

[matt40k]

You will want less cores as its generally cheaper to license per core vs CALs. Also faster cores vs more cores. You'll want Standard edition. Why do you have a DVD drive? And you'll want SSD not spinning rust. Are you virtualizing? Also licensing question should be directed at your account manager as they know the details - and can give you actual costs vs ballpark.

 

EDIT:

"you'll need your FTE count for CALs" - ooo... sounds like a better option maybe?

[hallb15]

What size school is this for? We are a large primary and our whole school runs off a similar spec to that with 4VMs, one of which is the SIMS server VM. It has 6 cores, and 16GB of RAM and runs perfectly without breaking a sweat.

[rama1712]

Becuase it comes with server (DVD) I would love SSD but i need to get licencing costs so i know what i can have and what i love to have.

[3s-gtech]

I struggle to decipher the product names and relate them back to what you actually need to order, but we have a physical processor SQL license (at £50.50) alongside the CALs at £4.41. That should give you a rough figure, though prices will have gone up. With the core licensing model, it may end up costing you £2500 a year, whereas the processor+CALs model (if still available) may be less than half that.

[steveg]

How big is the school, how many sims users do you have (concurrent and total)? How big is your current sims database?

 

What other servers do you already have, and what is virtualised?

[PotNoodleTech]

For SQL you want to keep the core count low and the ghz per core speed high as more cores means more licence moneys ££$$

[Norphy]

I'd also be wary of buying a server with an X5650 CPU, even if it is reconditioned. That's Westmere class, released in 2010. That server is going to be seven or eight years old.

[Arthur]

I'd also be wary of buying a server with an X5650 CPU, even if it is reconditioned. That's Westmere class, released in 2010. That server is going to be seven or eight years old.

I agree! The X5650 is slower than even a Core i3-8100 which costs ~£83. Far too old IMO.

 

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Edited January 30, 2018 by Arthur

[3s-gtech]

I'd guess the quote is for this or similar:

 

http://www.ict-direct.co.uk/servers/refurbished-hp-proliant-dl380-g7-2u-server.html

 

It's a lot of server for the money. Our SIMS server sits virtualised on an HP DL385 G7 host - Opteron 6136 powered. That works very nicely, but has a few more cores and less RAM than that specced.

[Michael]

Memory is a lot cheaper than it used to be, so 32GB/64GB+ isn't so ridiculous anymore, but the overall costs to host a local MIS are extremely expensive.

 

Technically speaking, if you took a snapshot of your existing SIMS instance (if it isn't already virtualised), you wouldn't have to worry about re-purchasing CALs, it'd be more so the issue of licensing accordingly per core, but again in Hyper-V you could adjust the number of cores to suit.

[Norphy]

I'd guess the quote is for this or similar:

 

http://www.ict-direct.co.uk/servers/refurbished-hp-proliant-dl380-g7-2u-server.html

 

It's a lot of server for the money. Our SIMS server sits virtualised on an HP DL385 G7 host - Opteron 6136 powered. That works very nicely, but has a few more cores and less RAM than that specced.

 

It’s not even the power that worries me so much; I have a couple of Westmere powered servers which run my dev environment and they still perform adequately. It’s more the fact that it will be an eight year old server. Eight year old PSUs. Eight year old fans. Eight year old (probably) hard disks. All stuff that’s prone to wearing out and very likely to at 8+ years old.

 

I’d run something like that as dev or for something that’s not mission critical. For something like SIMS? No.