SQL Diagnostic Manager (SQL DM) is Idera’s monitoring and diagnostics tool for Microsoft SQL Server. ER/Studio is its data modeling and architecture family. Both are Idera, Inc. Licensed Software under the Master Software License Agreement (MSLA) for perpetual licences or the Master Software Subscription Agreement (MSSA) for term licences.[1][8] They use different metrics. SQL Diagnostic Manager and its companion SQL Server tools are counted per instance. ER/Studio and DB Optimizer are counted per user on a workstation.[2][7]
Editions
SQL Server tools
| Offer | Catalog row | Price shown (USD) | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQL DM Standard | SQL DM Standard | 1,247 per instance[2] | Annual licence (12-month term)[2] |
| SQL DM Pro (incl. SQL Workload Analysis and SQL Query Tuner) | SQL DM Pro | 1,348 per instance[2] | Annual licence (12-month term)[2] |
| SQL Workload Analysis & SQL Query Tuner add-on | Add-on | 250 per instance[2] | Annual subscription; requires SQL DM with current maintenance[2] |
| SQL Defrag Manager | SQL Defrag Manager | 747 per instance[2] | Annual subscription[2] |
| DB Optimizer | Single Platform | 715 per user (workstation); Multi-Platform 1,073[2] | First year maintenance included[2] |
The store states that its pricing includes one year of support and maintenance per licence.[2] Idera describes SQL DM pricing as “predictable and per-instance, with no per-gigabyte ingest fees”. It also says one licence includes all features, such as alerting, forecasting, session monitoring and AlwaysOn monitoring.[6]
ER/Studio
| Edition | Catalog row | Price shown (USD) | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ER/Studio Data Architect | Data Architect | 2,687 per user[7] | Subscription; workstation licence with multi-platform capability[7] |
| ER/Studio Data Architect Pro | Data Architect Pro | 3,693 per user[7] | Subscription; workstation licence; for small teams that collaborate[7] |
| ER/Studio Enterprise | None | Quote[7] | Cross-team collaboration, business glossaries and metadata governance[7] |
The pricing page notes that multi-year discounts are available from sales, and that prices may exclude VAT or taxes.[7]
Metrics
Per instance (SQL DM). Under MSLA s.2(b)(i), per-instance software may be used “on one (1) instance per license purchased”.[1] The product documentation applies this to monitored SQL Server instances: “Each license allows you to monitor a predetermined number of SQL Server instances.”[3] Catalog: Per instance.
Workstation and per user (ER/Studio, DB Optimizer). A Workstation License allows installation on one computer “for use by one (1) end user within the Licensed Country”. A per-user licence allows any number of installations but only one user per licence.[1] ER/Studio’s online prices are per user and include a workstation licence.[7] Concurrent and named user licences also exist in the MSLA. They are typically arranged through sales rather than the online store.[1]
Counting / floors
Additive keys and enforcement. Each licence key added to SQL DM states how many more instances can be monitored and adds to the total.[4] “When you reach your license limit, SQL Diagnostic Manager does not let you add new instances.”[3] The console therefore keeps the monitored instance count within the keys entered. A licence position should still compare the keys entered with the Order Forms, because keys can be generated per order. Catalog: SQL Diagnostic Manager stops adding instances at the licence limit.
Key generation. SQL DM 9.0 and later need new licence keys, which customers generate themselves through the IDERA Customer Portal or the licence manager utility.[5] If the SQL DM Repository is moved to a different SQL Server instance, a new key must be requested from IDERA Sales.[3]
Trial. SQL DM ships with an evaluation key. When the trial period expires, SQL DM stops running.[3] Idera describes the trial as a full-feature, 14-day trial.[6]
ER/Studio repository licences. The MSLA has three rules specific to ER/Studio:[1]
- ER/Studio Team Server and ER/Studio Portal licences are exclusive connection licences. They may be installed only up to the number purchased to connect to a single server, and may be reapportioned between users within that total.
- ER/Studio Team Edition licences may not be mixed with ER/Studio Enterprise or other editions that can connect to the repository.
- Non-Team editions may not connect to the Team Edition repository. A customer that buys Team Edition “must upgrade all existing ER/Studio licenses having repository connectivity to ER/Studio Team Edition”.
Catalog: ER/Studio Team Edition licences cannot be mixed with other repository-connected editions.
Virtualization & partitioning
SQL DM counts SQL Server instances, not hosts or cores, so the number of instances on a virtual host determines the licence need. Idera says SQL DM monitors on-premises, VMware and Hyper-V, Azure SQL Database and Managed Instance, AWS RDS and GCP instances in one view.[6] Whether managed cloud database instances count as instances under a given Order Form should be confirmed against the Order Form, because the MSLA defines no cloud instance. Products that Idera sells per server count each virtual server as one server. Products sold per CLU count up to four vCPUs per CLU.[1]
Cloud / BYOL
SQL DM collects data without agents on the monitored servers and stores it in a repository that the customer owns.[6] ER/Studio is installed on workstations. Neither has a cloud-specific licence clause; the MSLA’s grant covers hardware owned or operated by or on behalf of the customer.[1]
Programs
- Annual subscriptions. The store sells SQL DM as 12-month licences that include support and maintenance.[2] Under the MSSA, subscriptions renew automatically for 12 months at the then-current subscription list price unless cancelled in writing at least 30 days before expiry.[8] Catalog: Idera subscription licence.
- Perpetual licences with maintenance. These follow the MSLA’s maintenance and reinstatement rules; see Idera Master Software License Agreement.
- Add-ons. SQL Workload Analysis and SQL Query Tuner need a SQL DM licence with current maintenance.[2] Letting SQL DM maintenance lapse therefore also affects the add-on entitlement.
Audits and compliance
Idera may gather licence usage data, including licence key numbers, server IP addresses, user email addresses and domain counts. On written request, the customer must deliver a certified usage report within ten business days.[1] For SQL DM, the instance list in the console is the natural basis for that report. For ER/Studio, the report should list named users, workstations and repository connections by edition. Catalog: Idera may gather licence usage data and require a certified usage report within 10 business days.
Out of scope
- SQL Diagnostic Manager for MySQL, SQL Compliance Manager, SQL Safe Backup, SQL Inventory Manager and other IDERA tools.
- Aqua Data Studio, which is licensed under Aquafold’s own terms.
- ER/Studio Business Architect and Team Server Core configuration.