December 28, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Is it possible to configure SQL 2005 so that it only uses a single processor on a multi-processor box? I can't afford to buy a license for all my processors right now, so I want to just run it on one.
December 28, 2006 at 1:23 pm
yes you can do it, but i don't know if the license says you have to physically remove the CPU's from the server
December 28, 2006 at 3:04 pm
I think You can change in SSMS ...
Processor Licensing Model
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/processor.mspx
MohammedU
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
December 29, 2006 at 7:17 am
You can change the affinity mask in the SQL server properties, BUT:
You still need to license every CPU that is accessible to the operating system on which SQL server is running. I seem to recall an exception for machines with more than 8 CPUs, but I'm not sure if that still applies.
So, it would seem that you can't.
There is another way, however, and that is to run SQL server on an OS in a Virtual Machine. You could use VMWare or MS Virtual Server.
In the case of MS Virtual Server, you would need 2 OS licenses. One for the host (physical mcahine) and one for the Guest (Virtual machine), but you would use a single processor license for SQL.
At least that's how I interpret the licensing rules for VMs. You might want to go take a look at the SQL licensing information on Microsoft's website. There is a document that details everything you need to know.
I do run many SQL servers in VMs and I have not yet had a problem.
jg
December 29, 2006 at 9:16 am
>>I do run many SQL servers in VMs and I have not yet had a problem. <<
How much load are those servers taking ?
* Noel
December 29, 2006 at 10:55 am
All of it. heh.
So far I'm not putting much load on any of them.
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