[Windows Software] SQL Server CPU Licening in virtualised environment

[fox1977]

Hi there,

 

I am just trying to confirm whether we are covered on our SQL server licences.

 

We have purchased 6 x 1 cpu editions of sql 2005 standard edition licences a while ago when we were running 3 physical servers with 2 CPUs in each. These servers have since been decomissioned and are no longer in use.

 

We have since implemented a virtual solution running across 3 host machines with 2 physical CPUs in each host. As we have enough sql server licences to cover all the physical CPUs across all host machines are we able to deploy 'as many' SQL servers as we need across all these host machines.

 

Thanks

[Soulfish]

According to http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/e/6/1e68f92c-f334-4517-b610-e4dee946ef91/2008%20SQL%20Licensing%20Overview%20final.docx each Virtual CPU that you assign your VMs that are running SQL server requires an SQL license.

 

It's a shame it doesn't work like the OS licensing!

[fox1977]

Hi there,

 

Just an update. I have just spoken to Microsoft Licencing in the UK. They have confirmed that we have the appropriate licences.

 

They confirmed that as we have the appropriate CPU licences (SQL 2005 standard) across all hosts we are able to run multiple/unlimited versions of SQL. Of course i am still awaiting written confirmation of the this from sql.

 

I am not too sure if MS have changed their licencing agreements as a lot of stuff on the internet confirms the previous post.

 

I will wait until i have it in blood from MS!

[Soulfish]

Hi there,

 

Just an update. I have just spoken to Microsoft Licencing in the UK. They have confirmed that we have the appropriate licences.

 

They confirmed that as we have the appropriate CPU licences (SQL 2005 standard) across all hosts we are able to run multiple/unlimited versions of SQL. Of course i am still awaiting written confirmation of the this from sql.

 

I am not too sure if MS have changed their licencing agreements as a lot of stuff on the internet confirms the previous post.

 

I will wait until i have it in blood from MS!

 

Wouldn't surprise me if MS licensing has different information or a different interpretation to the MS document I linked to earlier. MS licensing is so complicated that every time you speak to a "licensing expert" you get a different answer

[albertwt]

cmiiw, SQL Server (whatever the edition) is always licensed per CPU sockets ?

so if we assigned 4vCPU into this VM do we only pay for the physical CPU sockets ?

[DMcCoy]

cmiiw, SQL Server (whatever the edition) is always licensed per CPU sockets ?

so if we assigned 4vCPU into this VM do we only pay for the physical CPU sockets ?

 

SQL 2008 has very different licensing to 2005. With enterprise you can SQL in as many VMs as the hardware supports as long as the host is licensed.

 

The MS guide is here http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-44CC-87BB-C236BFCBA4DF/SQLServer2008_LicensingGuide.pdf

 

 

It's a bit confusing as hyper-threading also has to be accounted for.

[albertwt]

SQL 2008 has very different licensing to 2005. With enterprise you can SQL in as many VMs as the hardware supports as long as the host is licensed.

 

The MS guide is here http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-44CC-87BB-C236BFCBA4DF/SQLServer2008_LicensingGuide.pdf

 

 

It's a bit confusing as hyper-threading also has to be accounted for.

 

Thanks Mr. McCoy,

 

in my ESXi the Hyper threading is turned off.

 

Cheers.

[Richfrombechtle]

The rule is:

 

Number of Virtual CPU's / Number of Physical cores = No. of CPU licences (rounded up)

 

If Hyper Threading is on then it becomes:

 

Number of Virtual CPU's / Number of threads = No. of CPU licences (rounded up)

 

Cheers

Rich

[john]

SQL 2008 has very different licensing to 2005. With enterprise you can SQL in as many VMs as the hardware supports as long as the host is licensed.

 

The MS guide is here http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-44CC-87BB-C236BFCBA4DF/SQLServer2008_LicensingGuide.pdf

 

 

It's a bit confusing as hyper-threading also has to be accounted for.

OMG a 63 book on how to licence SQL 2008 Keeping my SQL box un-virtualised looks more and more attractive every day!

[albertwt]

The rule is:

 

Number of Virtual CPU's / Number of Physical cores = No. of CPU licences (rounded up)

 

If Hyper Threading is on then it becomes:

 

Number of Virtual CPU's / Number of threads = No. of CPU licences (rounded up)

 

Cheers

Rich

 

Thanks mate !