How do you actually install SQL 2005 licenses ?

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How do you actually install SQL 2005 licenses ?

Eric_Gagne

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August 4, 2008 at 8:20 am

#130434

Hi,
I've been searching the forum and reading up but I find conflicting information and I can't find a clear answer to this.
I downloaded SQL 2005 from my MSDN subscription and installed it. We're running with two quad core processors.
Today I received my licenses but I only got an email with some serial numbers. After what I found here a few weeks ago I was expecting a CD with a license key or something but I see other posts that say that a license is only something I put in my files in case I'm audited so here are my questions.
How does SQL 2005 know to use both CPU's, does it actually automatically use all the CPU's in the server ?
Would it be possible to have a server with 43 cpu's but license only 2 of them and have SQL 2005 only use 2 ?
Thanks

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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GSquared SSC Guru Points: 260824 More actions · Answer 1

By default, it will use all of them. You can change that by setting CPU affinity, so yes, you could use 2 out of 43 (that's quite a server!), but you'd have to tell it to work that way.

- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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Eric_Gagne SSCrazy Points: 2062 More actions · Answer 2

Thanks GSquared,

That clears it up. So what are those license CD's I read about ?

BTW: The 43 was a typo, I meant 4 🙂

GSquared SSC Guru Points: 260824 More actions · Answer 3

The CDs/DVDs are just a convenient way to install on a server that doesn't have an Internet connection, or to reinstall without having to redownload.

- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon

Eddie Wuerch SSChampion Points: 12535 More actions · Answer 4

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/howtobuy/licensing.mspx

If a physical processor is available to the OS on which SQL Server is installed, then you must license that processor, regardless of any SQL Server service-specific affinity settings.

Eddie Wuerch
MCM: SQL

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736494 More actions · Answer 5

Eddie is correct. Every CPU in the system must be licensed, regardless of what's used.

The exception would be if you ran a VM on a 4 way system and had 2 virtual CPUs. You would license 2 CPUs then.

note this is CPUs, not cores.

Eric_Gagne SSCrazy Points: 2062 More actions · Answer 6

Thank you all, It's very clear now for CPU licenses but just to satisfy my curiosity and maybe benefit others. How would licensing be accomplished if I was using the CAL model ?