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Database Mirroring licence query

  • May 18, 2012 at 2:49 am

    #269068

    Hi all,

    I'm about to set up database mirroring for one of our main SQL instances, and I'm unsure about the licensing with regards to the witness server.

    Our primary instance is Enterprise Edition, and so is the secondary instance. As the secondary instance has the same number of processors as the primary instance and is fully passive, it does not need a license as per Microsoft's licensing terms.

    However, what is the situation regarding the witness server? As it does not serve any databases itself, it's purely a monitoring role, so obviously Standard Edition or lower would be okay but I can't find any information as to whether it needs a separate SQL Server license or not. Cany anyone who uses mirroring help clarify things for me?

    Thanks,

    Dan

  • May 18, 2012 at 3:10 am

    #1489530

    Install SQL Express (free) and use that for the witness.

    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

  • May 18, 2012 at 3:15 am

    #1489532

    Yeah, that's what I was kind of thinking myself. However, if I wanted to use Standard Edition for instance, would that need a license?

  • May 18, 2012 at 3:23 am

    #1489535

    Yes, it's not a failover server. It's a standalone instance that happens to be the witness for a mirroring config.

    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

  • May 31, 2013 at 8:27 am

    #1620104

    Is License required though it's not hosting neither database nor any features on it ?

    Thanks.

  • May 31, 2013 at 8:40 am

    #1620113

    Yes, it's not exempt from licensing as a passive standby server would be, hence it needs to be licensed. There's nothing in the licensing docs that say anything about number of databases or usage of features.

    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

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