Rules on licensing SQL Server machines

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Rules on licensing SQL Server machines

vamshi.sql

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June 2, 2010 at 3:53 am

#223358

Does someone know for certain what the rules on licensing SQL Server machines is with respect to mirrored databases? We are looking a DR scenario where we would be mirroring the databases using Enterprise Edition from one datacenter to another.
My question is: Do we need to purchase licenses for both the Principle node and the mirrored node, or do we need to purchase licenses for only the principle node and we shift that license to the mirrored node when it is in use and the principle node is down.
If someone can please look into this and let me know what the rules are I would appreciate it.

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/e/6/1e68f92c-f334-4517-b610-e4dee946ef91/2008%20SQL%20Licensing%20Overview%20final.docx

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

vamshi.sql SSCommitted Points: 1765 More actions · Answer 2

vamshi.sql

SSCommitted

Points: 1765

June 2, 2010 at 5:18 am

#1175208

Thanks allot for your reply..

Paul White SSC Guru Points: 150467 More actions · Answer 3

Well I've read that a couple of times now, and I'm still not *absolutely sure* if a DR mirror server requires a server licence or not.

I can quite see that CALs are not required so long as we don't actively query the mirror...but it's a bit vague about the basic server licence.

I guess this is why I leave licencing questions to other people 🙂

Paul White
SQLPerformance.com
SQLkiwi blog
@SQL_Kiwi

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 4

Sometimes I think MS makes the licensing rules intentionally vague and hard to understand.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

Mark Shepherd-435962 Mr or Mrs. 500 Points: 568 More actions · Answer 5

You only need to license the primary site, as long as you have the same number of processors in the two servers and you don't intend on running for more than 30 days on the secondary site.

This is where microsoft's sql server licensing is quite generous compared to Oracle or Sybase licensing.

SQLSvrStevo Mr or Mrs. 500 Points: 582 More actions · Answer 6

Do the DR databases have to be in standby/norecovery/read-only mode? I have several databases in DR which have been fully restored (as the data is static) I just wish to make sure I'm not breaking any licencing agreements.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

Brian.cs Default port Points: 1407 More actions · Answer 7

They don't double ding you for being able to use high availability (if you need 2 servers to accomplish that, you don't need 2x the licensing). That's the general idea. However, if due to failovers and various scenarios you've had principal/active/primary databases running on both concurrently for say a month or more, you're definitely in license violation. I do recall time frame verbiage surrounding principal and mirror somewhere.

Ant-Green SSC Guru Points: 113507 More actions · Answer 8

SQLSvrStevo (2/27/2012)
Do the DR databases have to be in standby/norecovery/read-only mode? I have several databases in DR which have been fully restored (as the data is static) I just wish to make sure I'm not breaking any licencing agreements.
Thanks in advance,
Steve

Are the databases used for reporting on or used for any sort or production use? If so they need to be licenced, if not your ok as its not an active server. One thing you could do is set the databases to offline, and have a SQL job which in the event of invoking DR sets them all to online, just as a cover.

SQLSvrStevo Mr or Mrs. 500 Points: 582 More actions · Answer 9

Thanks for responses everyone. No the databases are not being accessed at all except for configuring DR, test DR and actual DR scenarios. I've just happened to leave them online.

Cheers,

Steve