Understanding licensing can be a tricky affair for many. To make your life easier, let’s delve into the simplified world of SQL Licensing.
The three configurations we’ll compare include the following:
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Licensing physical machines with enterprise to cover all SQL VMs on the host
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The same as above, but with the variation of having Software Assurance (SA) or not
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Licensing each VM individually
This analysis can help you decide which method best suits your needs by focusing on core count requirements.
In the image below with the table, we’ve highlighted three key examples that will help you understand the most beneficial ways to license. Let’s break it down:
The table image from the original page was not migrated.
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In the first row, licensing the host with Enterprise has the lowest core count requirement.
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The second row shows that licensing VMs individually sometimes has the lowest core count requirement.
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Finally, in the third row, we see another instance where licensing the host with enterprise again provides the lowest core count requirement.
The variation in results makes it clear that the most beneficial method of licensing depends on your specific circumstances, such as the available entitlement, SA status, and VM versions.