SQL Server ENT Licensing

  • We have a 16 core SQL Server 2012 Enterprise License for a server.

    Question 1: When installed, does this mean that SQL will only use 16 physical server cores even if the server has 24 cores in total?

    Question 2: Not taking account the disk or RAID layout of the server, would you chose to have more cores OR a faster processor. Assume this is a mixed use server, some data warehouse, some OLTP.

    Thank you

  • if you are installing SQL Server enterprise 2012 on a box with 24 core then you need to buy a license for all 24 cores. http://blogs.technet.com/b/uspartner_ts2team/archive/2011/11/30/a-concise-sql-server-2012-licensing-overview.aspx

    As for more cores or faster CPU, it would really depend on workload. OLTP would probably benefit from faster CPU while datawarehouse would benefit from more cores. check out this link for recommended CPUS for sql server 2012 http://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/glenn/recommended-intel-processors-for-sql-server-2012-oltp-workloads/

    Bob
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  • 1) SQL by default will see and use all the CORES and you would be out of compliance.

    2) Each workload is different but in simple terms and because of high price of licensing on a per core basis the normal thought would be to have fewer cores with faster speeds as it gets the most bang for the buck. That being said in a highly concurrent environment it may make sense to have more cores running a lower MAXDOP but from a pricing standpoint fewer faster cores makes sense.

  • Thank you.

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