September 3, 2015 at 7:48 am
The scenario is as follows:
One program is installed on a terminal server. The program is used by several users simultaneously. The program uses the same account to access the SQL Server installed on a dedicated SQL server.
How is this program licensed? Per user or per program?
The license data sheet states: "A license is necessary for each user or device accessing the server software."
Is this to be interpreted as only one license necessary for a program regardless of number of users, or is a program not considered a device?
Thank you in advance,
stig
September 3, 2015 at 10:55 am
Per user.
It's the sameish as a web server connecting to SQL and people using the web site. The people using the site need to be licensed, not the web server.
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
September 3, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Thank you very much for your swift answer 🙂
September 4, 2015 at 7:57 am
If it's a large number of users, it can be cheaper (and easier) to license the number of cores in the SQL Server machine. A minimum of 4 core licenses is required, even if you have less than 4 cores in the machine.
September 5, 2015 at 3:10 am
Thank you for your reply. So far we are talking about approximately 40 users on a Server 2012. This may grow into the double over the next couple of years. You have any idea about how many users makes it worth while to licence on a core basis?
September 8, 2015 at 6:55 am
Nothing is easy when it comes to licensing, but the simple answer should be:
Price of licensing the number of cores (4 is minimum) / price of 1 user license = number of users to break even.
Example (check you reseller for prices): If the price of 4 cores = $10,000 and 1 user license = $500 then the break even for buying core licenses instead of user licenses should be 10,000/500 = 20.
So, in this example, if you have more than 20 users than licensing cores is cheaper then licensing users and a bonus is no need for keeping track of number of users.
September 8, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Thank you for your answer once again. Now I have a good idea of the best option. Thank you.
Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply