SQL 2008 licensing

Question

I've read through a couple of documents on the licensing model, but I'd like to just confirm, if I'm gonna have my own server, hosting my asp.net application with hundreds of users accessing it, I need a processor license, as opposed to a CAL-based license, is that correct?

And if I have 2 processors, e.g., dual xeons, would I need 2 processor licenses? Can I get only 1?

Answer 1

Hello,

I hate to comment on licensing because in the end you should always talk to your licensing rep or ms rep to be 100% sure.

Having said that, if your application is internet facing you must use processor licensing and you must license (assuming this is a physical machine) all processors in the server, which as you said was 2. If this isn't internet facing you'll have to figure out who your users are and what the price difference would be, including future growth, for a server + cal model (assuming your version has that model available [hint: it changes with 2012]).

Do not take my post as the absolute truth, always always always talk to MS or your licensing rep specialist (if going through a 3rd party).

-Sean

Answer 2

As Sean already indicates, you have to license all processors for an
internet facing solution. This applies to physical processors, not
logical processors - so if you have a single 8-core processor, a
single license suffices. But for 4 dual-cores, you'd need four
licenses.

Also, be aware that MS is changing their licensing model. The change
has been announced some time ago, but I don't know when the new model
will be (or has become) active. The prices have dropped, but you now
have to buy licenses per core.

Like Sean, I'm going to add that you really need to talk to a MS
licensing representative. They are the only ones who truly understand
the licensing model.

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Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server MVP
My SQL Server blog: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/hugo_kornelis

Answer 3

I would suggest you to call MS

# US: [phone]
# Canada: [phone]

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http://uk.linkedin.com/in/ramjaddu